Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Ecuador (Ratification: 1962)

In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the application of sections 130, 133, 134, 148, 153, 155 (internal security of the State) and 367 of the Penal Code so that it could ascertain the scope of these provisions in the light of Article 1(a) of the Convention. The Committee previously noted the Government’s statement that, in practice, no penalties are imposed for the offences defined in the above provisions. The Committee recalled the implications for the application of the Convention of provisions that restrict the right to express peacefully a political opinion that is contrary to the established political system and requested the Government to provide information on the application of the above provisions of the Penal Code, including the number of sentences handed down, with copies of them, so that the Committee could assess their scope.

The Committee notes that the Government reiterates the same indications in its report. Taking into account that, according to the Government, the above provisions are not applied in practice, the Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on any change in this situation.