of nearly 120,000 people, of whom 27,000 were Indigenous. On 29 April, a group of Indigenous and human rights organizations filed constitutional protection proceedings and requested precautionary measures on behalf of the people affected by the oil spill. On 1 September, a judge rejected the petition and refused precautionary measures, stating that the petitioners had not proved a violation of rights. The petitioners claimed that there had been procedural irregularities in the case and that the judge had not respected due process guarantees.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS In August, the National Assembly approved a new Health Code which improved access to sexual and reproductive health care. In September, the President vetoed the Health Code, which was to be reviewed by the National Assembly in September 2021, in its entirety. Abortion remained criminalized in most cases, creating a barrier to accessing health care.
REPRESSION OF DISSENT By the end of the year, investigations into allegations of human rights violations and abuses committed in Ecuador during the October 2019 protests had not concluded. In June, the Ministry of Defence issued Agreement 179, which allows the Armed Forces to use lethal force against protesters, in violation of international human rights law and standards. In July, the Constitutional Court suspended the application of the Agreement pending its decision on its constitutionality.
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS Some 25% of the Ecuadorian population was living below the national poverty line in 2020. In May, the government announced a series of measures to reduce public spending, raising concerns about the possible negative impact this could have on economic and social rights, especially for disadvantaged individuals and groups who could be disproportionately affected. There were
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concerns that these measures could deepen existing inequalities and lack of access to rights. 1. Ecuador: State must urgently adopt public policy to protect human rights defenders facing grave risks (News, 12 March) 2. Ecuador: COVID-19 threatens Indigenous peoples’ lives (AMR 28/2643/2020)
EGYPT Arab Republic of Egypt Head of state: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Head of government: Moustafa Madbouly
The authorities continued to punish any public or perceived dissent, and severely repressed the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and association. Tens of journalists were detained arbitrarily solely in relation to their work or critical views. The authorities clamped down on reporting that deviated from the official narrative on COVID-19 and detained health care workers who expressed safety concerns. The authorities continued to severely restrict human rights organizations’ and political parties’ freedom of association. Security forces used unlawful force to disperse rare protests, and arbitrarily detained hundreds of protesters and bystanders pending investigations into “terrorism” and protest-related charges. Thousands of people remained in prolonged pre-trial detention, including human rights defenders, journalists, politicians, lawyers and social media influencers. Conditions of detention remained cruel and inhuman and prisoners were denied adequate health care, which led or contributed to at least 35 deaths in prisons or shortly after release. Fair trial guarantees were routinely flouted. Death sentences were handed down and executions were carried out. Women were prosecuted on “morality” charges for the way they dressed, acted or earned money online. Dozens of workers were arbitrarily arrested and prosecuted for exercising their
Amnesty International Report 2020/21
