Colombian Indigenous refugees in Ecaudor.
Migrant rights bill says 'no one is illegal'
Ecuadorian National Assembly deputy Esteban Melo said that under a new migration bill presented to the Ecuadorian National Assembly on July 16, “No human being will be considered illegal”.
The Organic Law for Human Mobility is designed to respect the principle of universal citizenship and the right of people to migrate, TeleSUR English said that day.
The bill contains provisions to address the needs of refugees and victims of human trafficking. Deputy Ximena Pena said: “For the first time eleven categories of vulnerability of migrants have been identified and based on these, mechanisms of care and protection are established.”
The bill aims to update the country's migration laws, bringing them in line with the 2008 constitution. The constitution, adopted by referendum, was one of the first major achievements of the leftist government of Rafael Correa.
Article 40 of the Constitution says: “The right to migrate of persons is recognised. No human being shall be identified or considered as illegal because of his/her migratory status.” It also details state obligations towards migrants.
Ecuador: Two-thirds back Correa
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa remains one of the most popular leaders in Latin America, despite recent anti-wealth tax protests, TeleSUR English said on July 15.
More than 65% of Ecuadorians in major cities support Correa, according to poll results released that day.
Think tank CIEES carried out the poll in Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca. In Guayaquil and Cuenca, 67% of survey participants described the president's performance as “good” or “very good”. Just 6% described Correa's track record as “bad” or “very bad”. Similar results were found in the capital, Quito, where Correa's approval rating was put at 65%.
Although the survey was limited to the country's three largest cities, the results were in line with other recent polls.
Despite recent protests against government proposals to raise capital gains and inheritance taxes targeting Ecuador's top earners, Correa remains widely popular among the working class and poor. Supporters point to Ecuador's solid economic growth under Correa, along with a huge reductions in poverty and expansion of public services.
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