ECUADOR, on the right path to strengthening the use of forensic DNA for criminal prosecution.

The past year has been plagued by security threats in Ecuador. Criminal organizations dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering have declared war on the national government, carrying out a series of attacks and terrorist acts that include kidnappings, homicides, bombings, illegal entry by armed men into the facilities of a national television channel, and the serious murder of political leaders such as presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio and the Mayor of Manta, Agustín Intriago.

The seriousness of the situation has extended to prisons, with criminals promoting riots in some prisons and the escape of prisoners. In this context, the Ecuadorian government must take shock measures to contain the actions of these criminal organizations and optimize the planning and reaction capacity of the entities in charge of security and justice.

In this context and seeking to increase the State’s capacity to deal with this situation, Ecuador has been promoting a national regulation for the collection of forensic DNA samples for 18 months. This regulatory effort was promoted by the National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences – SNMLCF, headed by its director General (r) Gustavo Zarate, to whom GTH-DNA provides technical assistance to support their leadership in forensic investigation in Ecuador and to share international good practices in the clarification of emblematic cases, such as the experience of Panama, which is carrying out a pilot plan for the collection of forensic DNA samples in prisons to advance in the clarification of crimes, improve the efficiency of the justice system and facilitate the search for the truth for victims.

Examples of similar progress in the region, such as the case of the Province of Mendoza, where they have had Law 8611 regulating the use of Forensic DNA since 2013 and have managed to solve more than 5,200 cases, serve to understand how this scientific tool aids in the solving of emblematic cases. In line with this objective, Kevin Mills provided a two-hour basic training on crime scene management and prioritizing the search and collection of DNA traces. The in-person event was attended by 81 coordinators and leaders of the CSI of the National Police in the city of Quito.

“Justicia Forense – DNA Latin America” celebrates the leadership of the National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences – SNMLCF of Ecuador and highlights the growing interest in the region in the use of databases to rationalize the application of justice.