In February 2017, Ecuador promulgated the Human Mobility Law (HML), which incorporates specific sections on refugee protection, RSD and statelessness. The Law also regulates migratory alternatives, such as regional migration schemes (MERCOSUR, UNASUR) and humanitarian visas, which provide legal protection and/or solutions to people in need of protection who do not necessarily qualify as refugees. UNHCR provided key support and assisted in the drafting of the complementary Decree and Refugee Protection/RSD Directive (or Resolution) adopted for the Law´s implementation. Crucially, the HML and its regulatory Decree contain clear provisions on registration with the civil registry and issuance of ID cards to recognized refugees. Legal and administrative procedures were put in place to facilitate the civil registration and issuance of ID cards to refugees, and between 13 November and the end of the year, more than 200 refugees were issued with ID cards, marking a key improvement of the ability of refugees to access public programmes and services, on par with nationals, and fully enjoy their rights. A project jointly implemented with the DPIN provided technical and financial support to the Government-run asylum system. The standards applied in registration procedures, case management and eligibility were reviewed, and the number of pending applications in the RSD system reduced from 25,000 at the end of 2016 to 11,197 at the end of 2017 (which includes new arrivals in those years). The project also allowed UNHCR to provide basic maintenance and clean-up of the government database (proGres v2), ensuring the issuance of reliable statistics for the first time since 2013. Based on the results of this project, and the subsequent identification of gaps in registration, filing, technical capacities and case management in general, the Government agreed to implement the Quality of Asylum Initiative (QAI) in 2018. The Office of the Public Defender, with technical and financial support from UNHCR, launched a programme to provide legal assistance in human mobility cases, including cases of non-admission to the territory and to RSD, and of migratory detention and deportation. By the end of 2017, more than 1,150 People of concern had benefited from the legal services provided by the Office of the Public Defender in RSD and other legal matters. In terms of solutions and livelihoods, UNHCR continued with the successful implementation of the Graduation Model for 851 targeted families in 2017, as well as on the promotion of livelihoods activities aimed at reaching a sustainable level of self-reliance of people of concern. Special mention should be made of the breakthrough achieved in achieving access for people of concern to financial services- in particular the opening of bank accounts. The Office moreover implemented a reduced but significant resettlement project, submitting 655 people for resettlement. Based on a letter of understanding with the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES), joint activities were launched in the provinces, which led to important breakthroughs such as payment of state subsidies to People of concerns with disabilities and their cares and inclusion of refugees in MIES entrepreneurial schemes, as well as MIES participation in local human mobility committees. In addition, a pilot project to promote the gradual inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in social protection schemes, supported by the recruitment of a consultant embedded with MIES for this purpose, was launched at the end of the year.
