El uso progresivo de la fuerza y los derechos humanos, un debate necesario en Ecuador.

Abstract

This study evaluated whether the progressive use of force in Ecuador, as a strategy to protect citizens and law enforcement against crime, complies with international human rights standards. The research emerged in response to reports of excessive use of force, particularly in contexts of high criminality and social protests. Using a qualitative and descriptive methodology, the study analyzed regulations, doctrine, and jurisprudence, complemented by historical-logical and inductive-deductive approaches to trace the evolution of the issue and examine specific cases that contributed to the investigation. The findings indicated that although Ecuador has a solid legal framework, challenges remain in its implementation, including inadequate police training, insufficient resources, corruption, and weaknesses in accountability mechanisms. The study concluded that strengthening oversight, improving officer training, and adopting international standards are essential to ensuring the legitimate and proportional use of force. Keywords: progressive use of force, human rights, law enforcement, legality, proportionality