Ecuador Executive Summary “The business costs of violence against women in Ecuador“ Violence against women is one of the most serious and widespread violations of human rights and a chronic social problem that creates harmful effects at all levels. In Ecuador, 6 out of 10 women have experienced some type of gender violence (INEC 2011). As it is present in all spaces in which we participate and interact, it is unquestionable that it is also present in companies, affecting the business world. 12,101 employees from 35 large and medium-sized companies located in different cities of the country participated in this research. It improves and adapts, for the Ecuadorian context, a methodology previously used by the GIZ and the Universidad de San Martín de Porres. It determines the economic impact that violence against women in intimate partner relationships (VAW) has on large and medium-sized Ecuadorian companies, which results in a loss of productivity of almost US$1.8 billion dollars per year, equivalent to 1.65% of the gross domestic product (GDP), seriously undermining the possibilities of full development of individuals, companies, and the country.    Download (2021, pdf, 1.3 MB)   View in Spanish Infographic “The business costs of violence against women in Ecuador“ Infographic on the business costs of violence against women in Ecuador.   Download (2021, pdf, 477 KB)   View in Spanish Executive Summary “The individual, domestic and community costs of violence against women in Ecuador” In Ecuador, according to the Encuesta Nacional de Relaciones Familiares y Violencia de Género contra las Mujeres1 (National Survey on Family Relations and Gender-Based Violence against Women), approximately 65 out of every 100 women are psychologically, economically, physically, or sexually abused at least once in their lifetime. Violence against women in intimate partner relationships (VAW) is the most prevalent form of genderbased violence. VAW acquires a series of forms and manifestations, ranging from the most bloody, such as sexual abuse and physical violence, to the more subtle and invisible, such as economic violence and emotional violence. The study understands VAW as an exercise of coercive power, since all these attacks occur within an unequal power relationship between men and women, being a mechanism used by men to keep women submissive and subordinate to their authority. For centuries, VAW and its effects have been underestimated by society. Determining the economic impact of VAW, from an integrated approach, including a multilevel analysis, is necessary to strengthen the arguments in favor of its effective prevention. This study calculates the costs of VAW for Ecuador, and takes into account an approach at different levels to demonstrate that VAW is also a brake on social and economic development, as it destroys women’s well-being, health, productivity, and capital, not only at the individual level, but also at the family and community levels.    Download (2021, pdf, 1.3 MB)   View in Spanish Infographic “The individual, domestic and community costs of violence against women in Ecuador” Infographic on the individual, domestic and community costs of violence against women in Ecuador   Download (2021, pdf, 530 KB)   View in Spanish Executive summary: “The Invisible Costs of Violence against Women for Ecuadorian Micro-enterprises” 50% of small business owners have experienced violence by their partners. This fact not only negatively affects the profitability and productivity of their businesses, but also puts their existence at risk. The publication helps both private and public sector institutions to recognize the negative impact of gender-based violence.     Download (2014, pdf, 3 MB)   View in Spanish |  View in German Infographic “The cost of violence against women for micro-enterprises in Ecuador“ Infographic on the cost of violence against women for micro-enterprises in Ecuador   Download (2021, pdf, 1.6 MB)   View in Spanish Executive Summary “The direct governmental costs of violence against women in Ecuador” A key element in making violence against women visible in all its forms and spheres of occurrence is the generation of statistical information, which makes it possible to quantify, characterize, and measure this social problem. The collaboration established between GIZ, through its Program for the Prevention of Violence against Women (Prevención de la Violencia contra las Mujeres - PreViMujer) and the Technical Secretariat of the Toda una Vida Plan, with the support of the Universidad de San Martín de Porres in Peru, has made it possible to carry out this task that seeks to demonstrate the state’s investment in prevention, care, and sanction of violence against women. This document synthesizes the main results of the study which indicates that state institutions directly invested almost US$76.2 million in prevention and care of violence against women in 2017. Most of the expenses came from the justice sector (US$41.8 million), followed by the health sector (US$19.7 million), and education (US$14.2 million). Only 1.73% of the total was invested in prevention of violence against women, specifically in the health sector (US$529,000), justice sector (US$267,000), and education sector (US$11,000).   Download (2021, pdf, 1.1 MB)   View in Spanish Infographic “The direct governmental costs of violence against women in Ecuador” Infographic of the direct governmental costs of violence against women in Ecuador   Download (2021, pdf, 503 KB)   View in Spanish Study “The country costs of violence against women in Ecuador” This study is the second of its kind to be carried out in Latin America, its only precedent being a similar study carried out in 2017 by the Regional Program to Combat Violence against Women in Latin America (Programa Regional Combatir la Violencia contra las Mujeres en Latinoamérica), also of the German Cooperation, implemented by the GIZ, in Paraguay. These are the first studies that measure the effects of gender-based violence against women in a comprehensive manner and with primary data for the entire country. However, although both studies use the same conceptual framework and measurement strategy, the Ecuadorian study incorporates some new cost categories, such as, for example, the costs produced by food insecurity, intergenerational impacts (in the case of householdlevel costs), and the social support received by assaulted women (at the community level). The results of the country cost study indicate that Ecuador loses approximately US$4,608 million annually due to violence against women. This amount represents 4.28% of its gross domestic product (GDP). We hope that this evidence will help to make the situation more visible and raise the awareness of public and private institutions about the enormous economic impact of VAW, demonstrating that it is a problem that transcends individual spheres and affects all levels of society.   Download (2021, pdf, 1.7 MB)   View in Spanish Infographic “The country costs of violence against women in Ecuador“ Infographic on the country costs of violence against women in Ecuador   Download (2021, pdf, 498 KB)   View in Spanish From Evidence to Prevention. How to Prevent Violence against Women in Ecuadorian Universities - Executive Summary Ecuadorian universities assume USD 68,833,079 in indirect costs (for students and teachers) per year, as a result of violence of partners and other members of the university community. This amount is translated into 3,664,409 lost days for 252,429 students and teachers affected by sexist violence. In addition, 7 out of 10 male and female students, who witnessed VaW situations, did not act or intervene.   Download (2023, pdf, 50 MB)   View in Spanish Inforgraphic: Eyes that do not see. From evidence to prevention. How to prevent violence against women in Ecuadorian universities. Infographic of the study, "Eyes that do not see. From evidence to prevention. How to prevent violence against women in Ecuadorian universities."   Download (2023, pdf, 4,5 MB)   View in Spanish National study: From Evidence to Prevention. How to Prevent VAW in Ecuadorian Universities - Video Universities in Ecuador assume USD 68,833,079 in indirect costs (of students and teachers) per year, as a result of violence against women from partners and other members of the university community. This amount translates to 3,664,409 lost days for 252,429 students and faculty members affected by gender-based violence. In addition, 7 out of 10 male and female students who witnessed situations of VAW did not act or intervene.   Watch video (2023, YouTube)   View in Spanish |  View in German     Exploring factors influencing domestic violence: a comprehensive study on intrafamily dynamics This econometric analysis investigates the nexus between household factors and domestic violence. By considering diverse variables encompassing mood, depression, health consciousness, social media engagement, household chores, density, and religious affiliation, the study aims to comprehend the underlying dynamics influencing domestic violence.   Download (2023, pdf, 548 KB)   Unveiling the determinants of femicide in Ecuador: a comprehensive analysis This paper reports an investigation of the determinants of femicide using the context of Ecuador as case of study. To do so, we use official data spanning 2018 to 2022 from the National Survey on Family Relations and Gender Violence against Women in Ecuador with a dataset revealing 1,325 femicides and violent deaths of cisgender women and girls. Using a probit regression model, we find that several variables related to perpetrators’ such as level of education, employment status, and variables related to the crime itself such as location emerge as pivotal factors in understanding femicide incidents. This study contributes to a more profound comprehension of femicide’s multifaceted determinants, emphasizing the dynamic nature of these factors. The research aids in the development of evidence-based policies to address this societal issue effectively.   Download (2025, pdf, 1,30 MB)