De la jurisprudencia a la transformación normativa: impacto de las decisiones de la corte IDH en la consolidación de los derechos humanos en Ecuador

This article critically examines the impact of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ (IACtHR) jurisprudence on Ecuador’s normative transformation and the consolidation of a stronger domestic human rights protection system. A qualitative, descriptive-explanatory methodology is employed, based on doctrinal, legal, and jurisprudential analysis of emblematic cases in which Ecuador was held internationally responsible. The study confirms meaningful advances, such as the incorporation of conventionality control, the internalization of international standards, and the acknowledgment of the binding nature of the Court’s decisions. However, it also highlights structural deficiencies that hinder full compliance with reparations, including the lack of clear internal procedures, weak institutional coordination, insufficient intergovernmental articulation, and limited sustained political will. The role of the Secretariat of Human Rights as the coordinating administrative body, and the Constitutional Court as the entity empowered to activate the non-compliance action, are examined as key domestic mechanisms. Based on the findings, the article proposes specific actions to strengthen institutional frameworks, train legal operators, and develop effective monitoring tools. It concludes that the implementation of IACtHR judgments in Ecuador remains constrained by tensions between state sovereignty and international human rights law. Overcoming these challenges requires a genuine political and legal commitment to the primacy of human rights, capable of bridging the gap between international rulings and national enforcement. Ultimately, the article contributes to advancing a dialogue between domestic constitutionalism and the Inter-American system, rooted in the effective realization of human dignity and justice.