The National Assembly of Ecuador on July 31 unanimously upheld the right of parents to educate their children “in accordance with their principles, beliefs, and educational choices” without interference from the State in issues such as sex education.
The legislature's gesture came in response to recent rulings by the Constitutional Court, including a June 27 decision which takes away “the protective authority of parents” and gives it to the state as the outside guarantor when considering the “rights” of minors “in education and sexual and reproductive health.”
Viviana de González, president of the Family and Future Foundation, said that the National Assembly’s 70-0 ratification of parental rights is supported by Article 29 of the Constitution of Ecuador as well as the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights.
“Although this political pronouncement by the legislative branch is not binding on the [recent] ruling of the Constitutional Court, it's a clear response to the citizens' public demonstration of a half million parents who took to the streets July 28 in more than 10 cities in the country,” she said.
The march was held in opposition to the government's intention to impose gender ideology in education. It also demanded that any attempt to legalize abortion in the country be definitively shelved.
Demonstrators marched under the themes #ConMisHijosNoTeMetas (Don't mess with my children) #EnfoquedeFamilia (Focus on the Family), #AmisHijosLosEducoYo (I'm the one to educate my children), and #SalvemosLas2Vidas (Save both lives).
De González said that the recent resolution by the National Assembly also urges the Constitutional Court and other state agencies to “protect parental rights, the family, childhood and adolescence.”
“Organizations such as the National Front for the Family will remain vigilant so that this resolution leads to concrete actions in support of the family in the different courts of the State,” she said.
This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
