Central Bank of Ecuador Launches Anti-Violence Program

Manager of the Central Bank of Ecuador Veronica Artola awarded several female victims of violence checks for $3,000 on October 23. As part of a government initiative, the bank is offering loans and credit to female victims of violence and organizations that support them. This newfound financial support to end gender violence is part of the bank’s No More Violence project and seeks to empower female economic independence.

The bank is making a strong attempt to financially empower women who have suffered in abusive relationships so that they can pursue their well-being and independence without economic impediment. Artola said that this program “allows us to contribute to financial independence and encourage the development of economic projects of our heroines.”

If women want to benefit from this new line of credit and loans, they will not be asked for their “credit history, nor patrimony” and will not be required to get signatures “of the spouse or of a third party.” The loans can be for as much as $3,000 for individuals and up to $100,000 for organizations run by women that work toward ending gender violence. To qualify for personal loans, women need to provide a form of identification, a voting ballot, and a form of certification of previous abuse from a public or private entity. The same applies for organizations, except they must also prove their own existence and bylaws and give a registry of members

The program was applauded by Allison Vasconez, a representative of UN Women. Although Vasconez praised the efforts of the bank, she stated that “economic autonomy alone will not solve violence because there are unequal power relations. This policy must be accompanied by changes in all areas.” She continued by calling for other institutions and sectors of the economy to pitch in support.

The program is perhaps most notable for its inclusivity. One of the beneficiaries of the program, Mayra Lana, said that “the vision is that women in the countryside, in the city, people of African descent, those with or without disabilities, know that they are not alone, that they can get out of financial dependence.” Lana also stated that women “are not defenseless” and that they “are in resistance.”