Lawlessness has soared across Ecuador since the coronavirus pandemic, something outgoing President Guillermo Lasso blames on disputes related to drug trafficking and common crime.
Some 27% of Ecuadoreans live in poverty, while 10.8% live in extreme poverty on a national level, according to the government's statistics office.
Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said impoverished youth were easy picking for gangs looking to recruit new members.
Lasso, who brought forward elections to avoid impeachment, has repeatedly declared states of emergency in answer to outbreaks of violence.
"We need a social Bukele, one that takes seriously the links between poverty and the rise in violence," he added.
Persons:
Alexandra Valencia, Ecuadoreans, Guillermo Lasso, Olivier De Schutter, De Schutter, Lasso, Nayib Bukele, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Daniel Noboa, Oliver Griffin, Bill Berkrot
Organizations:
Alexandra Valencia QUITO, UN, United Nations, Central American
Locations:
Ecuador, U.S, El Salvador