criminalize girls or women who sought to terminate a pregnancy. This total ban on ECUADOR abortion continued to cause the deaths of women and girls. Republic of Ecuador In March, hundreds of human rights Head of state and government: Guillermo Alberto activists camped outside the National Palace Santiago Lasso Mendoza (replaced Lenín Boltaire demanding that Congress vote in favour of Moreno Garcés in May) decriminalizing abortion on three grounds – when the pregnancy poses a risk to the life of Indigenous peoples affected by the 7 April the pregnant woman or girl, when the fetus 2020 oil spill in the Amazon were denied cannot survive outside the uterus, and when truth, justice and reparations. Detainees the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.1 faced risks to their rights to life, integrity However, in June, the Chamber of Deputies and security. The Constitutional Court voted against decriminalization on the three decriminalized abortion on grounds of rape. grounds, risking the life and health of 2 thousands of girls and women. BACKGROUND In December, Congress again failed to pass Protests erupted after the first round of the a revised Criminal Code that decriminalizes presidential election in February amid claims abortion and provides protections against of fraud. In the second round of the election torture, violence and discrimination on the in April, Guillermo Lasso emerged as the grounds of sexual orientation and gender winner, defeating Andrés Arauz. identity. There were protests during the year by Legislators also failed to pass Indigenous peoples, farmers, transport comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation workers and students, among others, against which had been demanded by civil society government policies related to extractive organizations for almost a decade. projects and austerity measures. ARBITRARY DEPRIVATION OF By 31 December, more than 70% of NATIONALITY Ecuador’s population had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. As of 31 Thousands of people born to foreign parents December, the Ministry of Health reported who were registered as Dominicans at birth 551,620 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and but later unrecognized as nationals, 33,682 related deaths since 29 February remained unable to obtain Dominican identity 2020. documents, which continued to leave them stateless. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS In February, President Luis Abinader In March, the Orellana Provincial Court announced Covid-19 vaccination plans that rejected an appeal submitted by would have left many Dominicans of Haitian communities affected by the 2020 oil spill in descent and migrants without access to the Coca and Napo rivers. In May, the vaccines.3 However, following advocacy from Constitutional Court agreed to review rulings civil society actors, Dominican authorities in the case and in June it agreed to review a extended the vaccination programme to all request to protect their human rights. residents. Indigenous peoples continued to be at higher risk from the pandemic due to long- 1. “Dominican Republic: Chamber of Deputies puts life and health of standing inequalities and discrimination resulting in lack of access to drinking water, millions of women and girls at risk”, 30 June 2. Dominican Republic: Threat to Sexual and Reproductive Rights food, medical supplies, health services and (Index: AMR 27/4778/2021), 24 September Covid-19 tests. 3. Vaccines in the Americas: Ten Human Rights Musts to Ensure Health for All (Index: AMR 01/3797/2021), 25 March Amnesty International Report 2021/22 151