In Ecuador, more than two people disappear every day. 643 reports of disappearance have been registered from January 1 to 30. Their relatives, tired of the ineffectiveness of the authorities in the search for their loved ones and the neglect of the governments on duty, organized the First Caravan for the disappeared and found lifeless in Ecuador, to demand justice, truth and memory.
November 3, 2011 was the last time Telmo Pacheco had contact with his son, Orlando. It is almost nine years of searching and he will not stop until he finds it. Telmo, like other family members, will participate in this tour of Ecuador.
Lidia Rueda, president of the Association of Relatives and Friends of Disappeared Persons in Ecuador (Asfadec), pointed out that the caravan will take place from March 21 to 25 and will visit five cities in the country (Guayaquil, Cuenca, Loja, Chillanes and Bucay).
Lidia explained that this action arises from love for her loved ones and from the need to make this problem visible in the country.
The Ministry of Government, until June 2019, has a record of 1392 missing persons. ASFADEC, for its part, keeps a record that would double this number. Currently, the provinces with the highest rate of disappearances are Guayas with 17%, Manabí with 14%, Pichincha and Santo Domingo with 13%, followed by Los Ríos with 7% and Sucumbíos and Imbabura with 6%. Furthermore, 62% of all disappearances are women, while 38% are men.
“My daughter fought against this violence against women and it is already 33 months since her disappearance, without the State giving us answers,” said Fernando Montenegro, Michelle’s father, who disappeared on June 5, 2018.
Fernando pointed out that the caravan, apart from demanding justice and truth, will have its axis of prevention, to prevent the number of disappeared people from growing in Ecuador.
They will hold sit-ins, meet with authorities and march throughout Ecuador in this first caravan for the disappeared.
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