Interés superior del niño y barreras de acceso a la familia en el proceso de adopción en el Ecuador.

Abstract

This paper examines the application of the Best Interests of the Child (BIC) principle in adoptions in Ecuador. Its objective is to understand why the State takes so long to restore children's right to live in a family. Therefore, we will compare what is established in the laws with tangible action in real life. This analysis has identified critical issues such as slow administrative bureaucracy, the absence of mandatory deadlines in the courts, and social prejudices that hinder adoptions of children requiring priority attention. It also emphasizes that keeping a child institutionalized indefinitely is a form of institutional abuse, ignoring the international standards of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Therefore, this paper concludes with proposed reforms to the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONA) focused on judicial specialization and adherence to strict timelines, thus ensuring that the child's well-being prevails over any formality