A/HRC/44/52/Add.2 human rights standards and has taken numerous steps to advance women’s rights in the country, including through the enactment of the Comprehensive Organic Law to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (2018). It has also taken measures to progressively narrow the gender gaps in education and social security. Through Executive Decree No. 371, it confirmed its commitment to implementing Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly target 5.2, which is to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. Similarly, in its national development plan (2017–2021), the Plan for Good Living, it cites numerous specific objectives towards achieving gender equality and eradicating gender-based violence against women. 7. The Special Rapporteur commends Ecuador on its achievement in terms of the political participation of women; 39 per cent of Members of Parliament are women. She also commends it on the reforms to the Organic Law on Elections and Political Organizations that were made during her visit and adopted in February 2020, aimed at ensuring parity within the political sphere. Indeed, Ecuador has begun the process of adopting a progressive legal framework on human rights to respond to the significant challenges that the country faces in order to eliminate violence against women and girls and attain gender equality, in line with its international commitments. 8. The high level of violence experienced by women in the country is alarming, with about 65 per cent of women in the country having experienced at least some form of violence within her lifetime.1 The persistence of gender discriminatory and stereotyped attitudes and behaviour, deeply rooted patriarchal and “machista” social norms, the normalization of violence and the social stigma attached to reporting violence all continue to pervade society at all levels, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable women in society. 9. The vast majority of stakeholders with whom the Special Rapporteur met recognized that violence against women is a disturbingly common occurrence that is deeply rooted in society and that continues to have a significant negative impact on women, children and the wider community. 10. While cognizant of the economic imbalances in the country, the Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned at reports she received during the visit of proposed cuts to the 2020 budget for the prevention of violence against women and girls. Of particular concern are reports indicating that the budget allocated for the implementation of the Intersectoral Policy to Prevent Pregnancy in Girls and Adolescents will be reduced by 100 per cent and the budget for the implementation of the Comprehensive Organic Law to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women will be reduced by 84 per cent. 11. If implemented, the proposed budget cuts will significantly reduce efforts to implement the Comprehensive Organic Law to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women, and will nullify the much-needed Policy to Prevent Pregnancy in Girls and Adolescents. Given the high levels of overall violence against women and the increase in teenage pregnancies,2 if taken, this decision would contribute to the violation of the human rights of women and girls in the country. 12. The visit was conducted at a particularly challenging time. While the Special Rapporteur was in Ecuador, the National Assembly rejected proposed revisions to the restrictive provisions on abortion in the Comprehensive Criminal Code (2014), and the Constitutional Court was considering the conformity of the Criminal Code with the Constitution. The Special Rapporteur hopes that her findings, which are based on international law standards, will contribute to this important national debate. 1 2 Instituto Nacional Estadísticas y Censos (INEC), Encuesta Nacional sobre Relaciones Familiares y Violencia de Género contra las Mujeres, Noviembre 2019. Approximately 2,700 girls under 15 give birth each year. The birth rate among girls between 10 and 14 years old increased from 2.5 per 1,000 births in 2013 to 8 per 1,000 births in 2016. 3