In Ecuador, gender-based violence is robbing countless women of their safety, dignity, and future. Every day, women in Ecuador face unimaginable threats - from domestic abuse to human trafficking.

​​Impacted by societal norms and lack of laws being enforced, women across Ecuador experience disproportionate rates of violence. Furthermore, in 2012 a study found that "at all education levels, gender violence exceeds 50%, however, in women with the least level of education, violence reaches 70%." This traps many women in cycles of poverty and exploitation.

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Prostitution and sex-trafficking are two examples of violence against women; however, they look different in Ecuador than what you may expect. Prostitution is legal in Ecuador as long as the person is over the age of 18, is licensed, and works from a licensed brothel. However, this does not mean that these rules are always followed and just because it is legal does not mean it is not extremely harmful.

 

Still, in 2020, one study found that there were over 67,000 women in prostitution in Ecuador, an increase of nearly 170% since 2000. Furthermore, the real numbers are likely higher due to the difficulty in registering every person in prostitution. Of these approximated 67,000 women, 80.5% of them are mothers and heads of their household. Quito specifically is home to over 30,000 of these women in prostitution, which makes up approximately 45.4% of the country's total.

 

So why do so many women in Quito end up in prostitution? While there are some cases of trafficking – usually a false promise of a job or being forced to work in prostitution to pay off a debt– the overwhelming majority of women work in prostitution due to poverty. As mentioned above, more than 80% of these women have children to provide for, so they try to find whatever work they can to provide for their kids. Lack of education and histories of trauma and abuse also factor in to their situations, as many of them feel like they have no other options for work. ​The economic reality of these women pushes them into desperate situations as they look for solutions, and the one they often find is prostitution.

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So how do we make a positive impact on an issue that is so complex? How do we empower these women to change their lives for the better and overcome the challenges they face every day? How do we help them understand that they are loved by a compassionate God who wants so much better for them than their current situation? Visit our impact page to learn more about End Slavery Ecuador's approach!