Press freedom is under severe threat in Ecuador.

Investigative journalist Mónica Velásquez Villacís and her spouse and colleague Andersson Boscán are facing grave danger for their reporting on corruption and international drug trafficking in Ecuador.

Now, Mónica – a 2024 Courage in Journalism Awardee – and Andersson, along with their children and family, are being targeted for their vital work. Join the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) in standing with Mónica and Andersson, and calling on the Ecuadorian government to ensure their safety and protect press freedom.

The Crisis Facing Mónica and Andersson

Mónica and Andersson’s work with La Posta has exposed significant failures within the Ecuadorian Attorney General’s Office, revealing how these oversights have allowed criminal networks to operate unchecked. Their investigative reporting has shed light on high-profile cases of political corruption and organized crime. 

In response, the Attorney General has launched a public attack against Mónica and Andersson, baselessly accusing them of being “amplifiers for criminal activities.” This unfounded allegation has put them and their family in an extremely vulnerable position.

Escalating Threats to Journalists in Ecuador

The threats against Mónica and Andersson are part of a broader pattern of violence against journalists in Ecuador:

• In the first quarter of 2023, there were 96 attacks on journalists, including explosive devices mailed to at least five reporters.
• Two journalists were forced to flee the country in a single month due to death threats.
• Entire communities have become “silent zones” where journalists are too intimidated to work.

Call to Action

The Ecuadorian government must:

1. Immediately cease its public attacks on Mónica Velásquez Villacís and Andersson Boscán
2. Ensure the safety and protection of Mónica, Andersson, their children, and their extended family
3. Thoroughly investigate threats against journalists and hold perpetrators accountable
4. Strengthen protections for press freedom and combat impunity for crimes against journalists

Stand with Mónica, Andersson, and all journalists facing danger for their vital work. As Mónica stated, “Being a journalist – and a woman – requires not only professional excellence but extraordinary resistance.”

Press freedom is essential to democracy – we must defend it.

Add your voice: Click the tweets below to advocate for Mónica and Andersson