Quito, Ecuador – The Silueta X Association is celebrating a major human rights victory with the official release of the “Protocol for Accompanying Children and Adolescents for the Recognition of Gender Identity in the Educational Community.” The new mandatory tool, issued by the Ministry of Education, is the result of a six-year legal battle that originated with the case of C.L.A.G., a transgender girl who faced institutional discrimination in her school, culminating in the Constitutional Court Sentence 95-18-EP/24.
The Case that Forced Change (C.L.A.G. v. The State)
The protocol acts as a national shield, promising that no child or adolescent will be humiliated, excluded, or made invisible due to their gender identity in Ecuador’s educational system. The legal fight began in 2018 after C.L.A.G. faced repeated institutional violence, including:
- The school’s refusal to use her chosen name (social name).
- Prohibition from wearing the uniform and using the restrooms corresponding to her identity.
- Discrimination when receiving a diploma under her deadname, forcing her to graduate separately from her peers.
These acts, qualified by the Constitutional Court as institutional discrimination and violence, have now become the catalyst for structural change across the country.
The Protocol: A Three-Pillar Guarantee
The new document establishes a clear and mandatory framework for action, based on three core pillars:
- PREVENTION: Promoting a culture of respect, mandatory training for all teaching staff, and revising coexistence codes to eliminate discrimination at the root.
- PROTECTION: Guaranteeing the use of the social name, access to uniforms and facilities aligned with the student’s identity, and ensuring confidentiality.
- RESTITUTION: Immediate action against any violation, prompt notification to authorities, and the development of a plan to repair harm and guarantee the right to a safe education.
Facing Organized Opposition and Defamation
Silueta X simultaneously denounced strong opposition campaigns attempting to discredit the protocol. While ultraconservative groups, such as FIRMES, intensify attacks, accusing rights organizations of “promoting gender ideology,” Silueta X maintains that the protocol saves lives and upholds the Constitution.
The Association specifically called out the deliberate attempt to criminalize the defense of Trans rights, pointing to the public defamation of activist and national leader, Mgs. Diane Rodríguez, who has been publicly labeled a “gender terrorist” on social media by these groups.
The organization stated that this language is an attempt to silence the movement, emphasizing: “They attack our leaders because they fear our power of transformation. But their hatred only strengthens us and reaffirms the necessity of this protocol.”
Demands for Immediate Implementation
The Protocol’s strength lies in its execution. Silueta X, along with the Federation and the National Trans Platform, issued demands for immediate action:
- Mandatory Training: All teaching and administrative personnel must be trained on the protocol and their responsibilities.
- Authority Accountability: School directors must be primary guarantors of compliance, with clear sanctions for any omission or violation.
- Active Supervision: The Ministry of Education must establish effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure the protocol is applied nationwide.
The Silueta X Association remains vigilant, pledging to continue accompanying families, denouncing acts of discrimination, and demanding justice in every classroom.
