QUITO, June 15 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Ecuadorean authorities asked the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) for assistance to tackle organized crime gangs recruiting minors amid a national insecurity crisis, it was reported Friday in Quito.
Vice President María José Pinto emphasized the need for comprehensive responses to address forced or induced recruitment, driven by factors like extreme poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities.
“The vice president proposed that Unicef advise on technical processes and institutional articulation to address this serious problem,” Pinto’s office said in a statement. “Forced or induced recruitment of children and adolescents is a complex problem that requires comprehensive and urgent responses from the security and social cabinets,” it went on.
According to Unicef, 80% of intentional homicides of children occur in coastal provinces like Guayas, Manabí, Esmeraldas, and Los Ríos. Adolescent arrests linked to organized crime rose by 20% from 2021 to 2023, with 90% of detained minors being male.
On June 5, President Daniel Noboa declared preventing child recruitment a national priority, establishing a committee to formulate and implement related policies.
A 2024 study by 25 NGOs reveals that 36% of Ecuador’s 3.3 million children live in poverty, with higher rates in rural areas (43%) and among indigenous children (61%). Between 600,000 and 900,000 children under 5 lack access to health services, child development programs, and early education.
Chronic malnutrition affects 20% of children under 2, with severe long-term impacts on brain development and productivity, as noted by Unicef’s Juan Enrique Quiñonez. Chimborazo has the highest malnutrition rate (34.1%), followed by Santa Elena (30%) and others. Child labor has surged by 37% from 2022 to 2024, rising from 270,000 to 370,000 working minors, exacerbated by poverty and systemic challenges in justice and social services. — NNN-MERCOPRESS
