Más allá de la pensión: la presencia del padre en el desarrollo integral del niño/a

This paper aims to analyze the socio-legal context of parental co-responsibility and how the lack of involvement from both parents affects the integral development of children, adolescents, and young people, based on the best interests of the child principle, as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It examines key aspects related to the family, establishing that parents have a duty to fulfill their parental responsibilities regardless of the nature of their relationship with each other, supported by comparative analysis of international legislation. The methodological design follows a qualitative approach with a quantitative component. Descriptive-analytical and comparative methods were applied to assess the effects of paternal absence on the comprehensive development of children and adolescents. Interviews with legal professionals and surveys conducted among residents of the Portoviejo canton were used as data collection tools. The study identifies a lack of effective mechanisms for implementing parental co-responsibility. Its objective is to propose legal reforms that establish mechanisms and sanctions to balance economic obligations with the emotional responsibilities of parenthood, thereby ensuring active paternal involvement in the comprehensive development of children, adolescents, and young people.