Prevention of child sexual abuse in Ecuador in light of current legislation

Abstract

The sad reality that sexual assaults against girls, boys, and adolescents exist in the world is something that has occupied the thought and also the actions of numerous jurists, sociologists, psychologists, and governments; however, cases continue to exist and, in fact, are increasing. This scientific research responds to this intention, which proposes as its objective to critically review the successes and failures contained in the Ecuadorian criminal legal system, insofar as it has proven to be ineffective in preventing sexual crimes against girls, boys, and adolescents, and rather contributes to their increase and facilitates their impunity. For this purpose, a methodological research approach of a qualitative nature is applied, with methods such as analytical-synthetic, historical-logical, comparative, exegetical, and inductive, all of which lead to the result that the Ecuadorian State has neither succeeded in eliminating the risk factors nor in overcoming the existing obstacles concerning the increase in sexual assaults against girls, boys, and adolescents. It is also evident that public policies are either non-existent or insufficient to achieve effective protection of children and to prevent them from being victims of sexual assaults.