The Country of Return Information Project functions as a network of NGO’s for the collection and transfer of specific information on reintegration possibilities for potential returnees and their counsellors. All questions you may have on reintegration possibilities and on which you don’t find the answer in this country sheet, can be directed to the helpdesk “Country of Return Information”. E-mail: [email protected] COUNTRY SHEET ECUADOR The Country of Return Information Project runs until the july and is funded by the European Community. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be December 2007 made of the information provided. Sole responsibility for its content lies with the author. DISCLAIMER This Country Sheet is for informational purposes only and no rights can be derived from its contents. The CRI-partners will do their utmost to include accurate, corroborated, transparent and up-to-date information, but make no warrants as to its accuracy or completeness. Consequently, the CRI-partners do not accept responsibility in any way for the information in this Country Sheet and accept no liability for damages of any kind arising from using the information in this Country Sheet. The information in this Country Sheet has been retrieved in collaboration with local partners. This Country Sheet contains links to websites that are created and maintained by other organizations. The CRI- project does not take any responsibility for the content of these websites. The CRI-partners are the partners who participate fully in the CRI-project: Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, Caritas International Belgium, Consiglio Italiano Per I Rifugiati, Coordination et Initiatives pour les Réfugiés et Étrangers The Country Sheet Ecuador is a product of the CRI project. CRI-country sheets are prepared mainly on the basis of publicly available information, completed with data gathered by local partners in the specific countries, and will be updated periodically. Our local partners in Ecuador are: « El Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo S.J.” (CSMM)”, organisation specialized in human rights and good governance “Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society” (HIAS) specialized in humanitarian, social and legal assistance to Refugees ABBREVIATIONS BID Banco Interamericana de Desarrollo CEDATOS Centro de Estudios y Datos CELADE Centro Latinoamericano y Caribeño de Demografía CEPAL Comisión Económica Para América Latina y el Caribe CIF valor CIF Centro de Información y Orientación para la Población Refugiada e CINOR Inmigrante CIRE Coordinación y Iniciativas para Refugiados y Extranjeros CONADIS Consejo Nacional de Discapacidades CONELEC Consejo Nacional de Electricidad CONESU Secretaria Técnica Administrativa CONQUITO Corporación de Promoción Económica del MDMQ COVIPROV Corporación de Vivienda Provincial CPS Programa Crédito Productivo Solidario CRS Catholic Relief Services DAP Declaración Aduanera de Pasajero DAS Declaración Aduanera Simplificada ENEMEDU Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, Desempleo y Subempleo Urbano ESCI delitos de la trata y la explotación sexual comercial infantil FEDAEPS Fundación Ecuatoriana de Acción y Educación para la Promoción de la Salud FLACSO Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencia Social Sede Ecuador FODI Fondo de Desarrollo Infantil HIAS Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society IESS Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social IESS Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social ILDIS Instituto Latinoamericano de Investigaciones Sociales IMF Instituciones Microfinancieras INEC Instituto nacional de Estadísticas y Censos de Ecuador INHMT Instituto Nacional de Higiene y Medicina Tropical Leopoldo Izquieta Pérez ISSFA Fuerzas Armadas ISSPOL Policía y sus familiares IVA Impuesto al Valor Agregado MBS Ministerio de Bienestar Social MCCH Maquita Cusunchic Comercializando Como Hermanos MDMQ Municipio del Distrito Metropolitana de Quito MIDUVI Ministerio de Desarrollo Urbano y Vivienda MSP Ministerio de Salud Pública OIM Organización Internacional de las Migraciones OIT Oficina Internacional del Trabajo ONG Organización Non Gubernamental OPS Organización Panamericana de la Salud PIB Producto Interno Bruto PREVIE Programa de Retorno Voluntario de Inmigrantes desde España REAB Return and Emigration of Asylum Seekers ex Belgium SECAP Servicio Ecuatoriano de Capacitación Profesional Sistema de Identificación y Selección de los Beneficiarios de los Programas SELBEN Sociales SIAN Programa de alimentación para el desarrollo comunitario SIV Sistema de Incentivos para la Vivienda TGF Tasa Global de Fecundidad TVPA Ley de Protección de las Víctimas de la Trata de Personas y la Violencia UE Unión Europea UNHCR Alta Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados USD US dolares ($) VARRP Programa de Retorno Voluntario Asistido y de Reintegración Table of content 1.1. Documents.............................................................................................................7 1.1.1 Travel documents required for persons desiring to return and documents required in country of return....................................................................................7 1.1.2. How to obtain necessary documents..............................................................8 1.1.3. Issuing fees for necessary documents............................................................8 1.2. Return journey to country of origin.......................................................................8 1.3. Entry procedure....................................................................................................11 1.3.1 By air.............................................................................................................11 1.4. Consequences of antecedents and personal status of returnees. .........................11 1.4.1 Consequences of refugee status or subsidiary protection. ............................11 1.4.2. Consequences of a refugee status refusal.....................................................11 1.4.3. Consequences of an illegal departure from country of origin......................11 1.4.4. Consequences of crimes committed abroad (risk of double sentencing) ....12 1.5. Customs regulations (how to obtain current regulations) ...................................12 1.6 Access to region of return.....................................................................................14 1.6.1. Restrictions on domestic travel ...................................................................14 1.6.1.2. Practical obstacles................................................................................14 1.6.1.3. Administrative restrictions....................................................................14 1.6.2. Dangerous or inaccessible areas ..................................................................14 1.6.3. Domestic transportation ..............................................................................14 2. Physical safety (in the disputed region).......................................................................18 2.1. Expected armed conflict......................................................................................18 2.2. Regions with high levels of security risks (political, inter-ethnic or inter-religious tensions)......................................................................................................................18 2.3. Crime....................................................................................................................19 2.3.1. A region with a very high level of crime (physical safety that could be threatened)..............................................................................................................19 2.3.2. Risk of being a victim of human trafficking and Risk of being a victim of forced prostitution .................................................................................................20 2.3.3. Effectiveness of protection (capacity, competence, corruption etc.) ...........22 2.3.3.1. Police Forces........................................................................................22 2.3.3.2. Judicial order........................................................................................23 3. Social security and reintegration.................................................................................25 3.1. Regions with no possibilitéy of re-integration or return......................................25 3.2. Housing and accomodation..................................................................................26 3.2.1. Restitution of private homes to their legal owners and/or compensation (in former zones of armed conflict or natural disasters)..............................................26 3.2.2. Housing schemes in return areas..................................................................28 3.2.3. House building opportunities.......................................................................30 3.2.3.1. Requirements for buying a land plot....................................................30 3.2.3.2. Useful approximate prices (land, building materials, etc.)...................31 3.2.3.3. Availability of credit, state aid, and other forms of assistance.............32 3.2.4. House buying opportunities.........................................................................38 3.2.4.1. Legal requirements...............................................................................38 3.2.4.2. Possible obstacles for certain groups (such as single women, ethnic minorities, etc.)..................................................................................................40