Drugs and Prisons in Ecuador- The Human Face of Misguided Drug Laws

Ecuador has one of the harshest drug laws in the hemisphere. A non-violent drug offender can receive the same sentence, sometimes even stiffer, than a murderer.

In this video, Analia Silva says she started dealing drugs out of poverty. She explains that she did not even know the type of drugs she was selling; that she only knew that being the sole provider of her two children, she needed to make ends meet. She was caught in 2003 and sentenced to 8 years in jail.

Currently, Ecuador is in the process of reforming its drug policies to put more emphasis on public health and improved prison conditions.

The Washington Office on Latin America and the Transnational Institute created this video because Analia Silva's personal story illustrates the unjust impact of misguided drug laws.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• drug
• laws
• prisons
• ecuador