The Constitutional Court of Ecuador has overturned the state of emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa, who referred to it as the “second phase of the war” against organized crime gangs. In a majority vote, the court declared decree 275 unconstitutional, which imposed a state of emergency in seven provinces and a municipality in an eighth province, citing an “internal armed conflict.”

The annulment of the state of emergency comes after the court previously struck down another state of emergency covering five provinces. The court found that the suspension of the right to inviolability of the home in several provinces was unconstitutional as the circumstances cited did not meet the criteria for an internal armed conflict.

Despite striking down the state of emergency, the court recognized that there are serious acts of violence and complex circumstances facing Ecuador. It clarified that its decision does not impact the government’s ability to deploy military forces in coordination with police to combat organized crime, which was approved by a referendum.

In recent rulings, however, the court has taken a different stance on evaluating whether there is an internal armed conflict. The President had elevated fighting organized crime to this level and attributed high rates of homicides primarily to criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking. The court emphasized that factual evidence is necessary to support such a classification.

The wave of violence in Ecuador has raised concerns with many people as it experiences a high homicide rate. Efforts to combat organized crime and address security challenges remain a top priority for both government and judicial systems in Ecuador.

The Constitutional Court’s recent ruling marks a significant step towards restoring civil liberties and protecting citizens from arbitrary detention during emergencies. However, it also highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to tackle violent crimes effectively while ensuring due process protections are upheld.

The annulment of President Noboa’s state of emergency also raises questions about how long it takes for these measures to be implemented successfully. While some progress has been made, much work remains before we can truly call Ecuador safe again.

Despite this setback, however, it is essential that lawmakers continue working together with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to find long-term solutions that will help reduce crime rates and improve public safety across all sectors of society.