Over the past few years, Ecuador has gradually been taking steps to achieve gender parity in political processes. To further this effort, NDI has established and provided technical support to the Violet Coalition (Coalición Violeta, CV), a multi-sector coalition to promote increased women’s participation in Ecuadorian politics made up of members representing academia, civil society organizations, media outlets, and the private sector. While still a young group, CV, with NDI’s support, has seen success in pushing Ecuador to provide more protection for women in politics and for gender equality during the last two electoral processes. By gathering meaningful pledges and using the democratic opening provided by these elections, CV has established itself as a player in the Ecuadorian political scene and formalized relationships that have set it up for success in the years to come. 

In late 2022, NDI - recognizing that there was no multi-sector group promoting women’s political participation - reached out to academia, civil society organizations, media outlets, and the private sector to bring together the Violet Coalition’s core group of partners. The CV brings together key groups and citizens' voices to use collective action to promote an increase in women’s participation in Ecuadorian politics. As a result of its alliance-building activities, the CV is now composed of 42 local partners: 18 civil society organizations, 19 media outlets, four universities and one business organization. By having such a broad group, CV has been able to move quickly and effectively and make major changes in Ecuadorian political life.  

Initially, NDI worked with the coalition to develop an advocacy campaign to combat violence against women in politics (VAW-P). This campaign - Violet Yes, Violence No - included a petition for national political party leaders to sign their commitment to specific actions to reduce VAW-P, the development of a guide on how to file complaints against VAW-P in Ecuador that was distributed to more than 600 women in politics and a signature drive that resulted in the affirmation of support by more than 1,000 citizens.  Ana Gómez of partner organization MEGA Women (MEGA Mujeres) reported that “when women decide to participate in historically male-dominated spaces, we are met with violence. That’s why these coalitions are so important... We want women who decide to enter into political life to know that they’re not alone, that they have the support of an organized civil society that defends and protects their rights.” The campaign led to a shift in the conversation about VAW-P and helped to make the Ecuadorian political scene a more welcoming and open place for women. 

CV member organizations were also able to organize a concrete, coordinated response to a window of opportunity to increase women’s participation in politics in the run-up to the August 2023 snap elections. When extraordinary elections were called in May 2023, the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral, CNE) initially interpreted the existing electoral law (Democracy Code, or Código de la Democracia) to mean that political parties would not be mandated to present presidential and vice-presidential tickets with at least one woman until the 2025 elections, a lost opportunity on Ecuador's path to gender equality. However, women’s groups, including members of CV, decided to challenge that decision before the Contentious Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Contencioso Electoral, TCE). Members of the CV took advantage of their existing organization to coordinate an effort to draft a formal challenge to the CNE’s ruling. The challenge was eventually signed by 27 women activists from across the country who held press events and raised awareness on the issue. 

On June 2, the TCE published a legal opinion in favor of the CV’s interpretation of the law, and the CNE changed course, guaranteeing that all president-vice president pairings include at least one woman. Andrea Quijije, leader of the Network of Amazonian Women (Red de Mujeres Amazónicas), celebrated the ruling, saying that “we, as women, have organized to defend the political rights established in the Democracy Code, ensuring that the principles of parity and alternating women and men on party lists have been respected. We are promoting the Violet Yes, Violence No Campaign because we want a country in which we, as women, are included in all spaces and in all branches of government.” The CV also signed a letter of intent with the CNE to formalize cooperation between the two groups. This involves the CNE working with CV to continue strengthening its oversight of women’s political participation, combat VAW-P and verify that political parties comply with internal party requirements for gender parity.  

Overall, CV has made a vast amount of progress in their short time working together, promoting a safer and more equitable political environment for women. Both their initiatives to address VAW-P and the action taken in the run-up to the August 2023 snap election represent major steps forward in gender equity in Ecuadorian politics. They have also built deep and lasting relationships that put them in an excellent position to continue to do this work. NDI congratulates CV on the important achievements of its first year of activities and looks forward to future collaborations to further enhance the political participation of women in Ecuador.

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Author: Katy Mudge, Senior Advisor for NDI

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NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all.