Ecuador's National Assembly has declared December 8 as a commemorative day for the four Malvinas children, following a court ruling concerning their forced disappearance and plans to reform relevant laws.
On March 13, 2023, the Ecuadorian National Assembly approved a resolution with 147 votes out of 149 present legislators to declare December 8 as a commemorative day in memory of four children known as Josué, Ismael, Steven, and Nehemías, who were victims of forced disappearance in southern Guayaquil, a case referred to as Las Malvinas. This decision is in response to the Constitutional Court ruling 1732-25-EP/26, which mandates legal actions to address the issue of forced disappearances in Ecuador.
The Assembly's resolution aims to honor the memory of the four children through various commemorative activities, highlighting the importance of acknowledging their plight and the need for systemic changes in how such cases are handled. Additionally, the Assembly will reform the Organic Law of Action in Cases of Disappeared and Missing Persons to incorporate specific rules regarding forced disappearance and to establish immediate search mechanisms for missing individuals. The drafting of this reform project is expected to be completed by the Commission of Integral Security within 30 days.
Assembly member Inés Alarcón emphasized that it is the Parliament's institutional duty to respond to the court's stipulations and take necessary measures. The resolution and upcoming reforms underscore the government’s commitment to improving legal frameworks surrounding disappearances, aiming to prevent future occurrences and ensure justice for victims and their families.
