Ecuador: The refugee determination system and process (1998)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ECU32339.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ecuador: The refugee determination system and process (1998), 1 July 1999, ECU32339.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab5258.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information is provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Website:
Since 1996, there has been a major increase of people from such diverse regions as Africa, the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East seeking asylum in Ecuador and they now make up 90 percent of the number of asylum seekers in Ecuador. Because of language difficulties, their integration into society is difficult.
The remaining 10 percent are Cubans, Peruvians and Colombians. There are many other, unregistered Colombians who flee ongoing violence in their homeland but who prefer to stay anonymous in Carchi, Sucumbios,
Imbabura and Esmeraldas departments bordering the two countries as well as Pichincha and Guayas departments in the interior.
There are a total of 14,500 people of concern to UNHCR. Recognized refugees are given renewable one-year residency permits and are allowed to work. UNHCR, through its implementing partner, the Catholic Bishops Conference, provides basic material assistance, medical and educational help to needy refugees.
Ecuador acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention in 1955 and to its 1967 Protocol in 1969. It is party to the 1954 Convention on Diplomatic and on Territorial Asylum of the Organization of American States and has adopted the Cartagena Declaration on Protection of Refugees. These extend refugee status beyond the 1951 Convention to include people fleeing generalized violence.
According to Ecuadorian law, asylum claims can be submitted to police, migration authorities, border police or UNHCR. Claims are then referred to the Coordinator of the Commission to Determine the Status of Refugees at the Foreign Ministry (July 1998).
With reference to Colombian refugees in Ecuador, the World Refugee Survey 1998 states that:
Almost all live in isolated areas near the Colombian border. The Ecuardoran government does not consider them to be refugees, though it has permitted them to remain. However, the Colombians reportedly experience a number of problems, including violations of their civil and political rights and denial of services such as education. They find few employment opportunities (1998, 231).
Additional information on the Ecuadoran refugee determination system could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). July 1998. "UNHRC Country Profiles - Ecuador."
U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR). 1998. World Refugee Survey 1998. Washington: Immigration and Refugee Services of America.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internally Displaced People: A Global Survey. 1998.
Organization of American States (OAS) Website.
Refugee Survey Quarterly [Geneva]. 1998.
U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) Website.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, REFWORLD, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet and WNC.
