A/HRC/44/52/Add.2 38. Ecuador has had in place since 2014 a national plan to eradicate gender-based violence against women, children and adolescents, which targets the comprehensive and intersectoral eradication of gender-based violence. A national strategy to eradicate genderbased violence against children, adolescents and women was submitted in March 2018 as the basis for the National Equality Agenda for women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons (HRI/CORE/ECU/2018, para. 144). 39. The Special Rapporteur notes that the previous national plan and related strategies lacked a holistic and human rights-based approach to violence against women, as they did not sufficiently address the need for adequate crisis services, shelters or safe houses for women and children who are victims of violence and opportunities for empowerment in such places. C. National machinery on violence against women and gender equality 40. In accordance with the Constitution (art. 156), the Organization Act on National Equality Councils was approved in 2014. The Act provided for the establishment of the National Council on Gender Equality and for the creation of local councils for the protection of the rights of specific groups of the population, including women. 41. The National Council on Gender Equality is the body responsible for ensuring the full application and fulfilment of the relevant rights enshrined in the Constitution and in international human rights instruments. It is responsible for ensuring gender mainstreaming across all public policies related to the rights of women and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, in line with the National Equality Agenda for women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons (2018–2021). 42. The Special Rapporteur notes that the Council lacks a clear mandate to lead and coordinate the design and implementation of gender equality policies within the respective entities at the national and local levels, and that the percentage of the official budget allocated for the implementation of gender equality policies is decreasing. According to information received during the visit, the budget was cut substantially between 2018 and 2019. The fact that local councils for the protection of rights lack a mandate and specific guidelines for promoting equality between women and men and protecting women’s rights is also of concern. 43. In 2019, the Subsecretariat for the Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women, Children and Adolescents within the Human Rights Secretariat was designated as the principal coordinating intersectoral body for the implementation and monitoring of the Comprehensive Organic Law to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women. 44. Also in 2019, the Subsecretariat presented the Ministry of Finance with a budget forecast of US$ 5,408,561. This sum included proposals for the establishment of new shelters and to strengthen protection services for women victims of gender-based violence. The Special Rapporteur was informed that in the budget proposal sent to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Finance, only US$ 876,862 was allocated for the implementation of the Law. 45. The lack of effective coordination between the Subsecretariat for the Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women, Children and Adolescents and National Council on Gender Equality should be addressed. Efforts should be made to ensure strong cooperation between the two bodies in order to guarantee coordinated implementation of the Comprehensive Organic Law to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women. D. Independent human rights institutions 46. The Office of the Human Rights Ombudsperson, established in accordance with articles 214 to 216 of the Constitution, is a body governed by public law that has national jurisdiction, legal personality and administrative and financial autonomy. The Office has a decentralized structure, with representatives in each province and abroad. It is responsible for protecting and safeguarding persons living in Ecuador and protecting the rights of 8