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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Citizen litigation and healthy taxes: The experience of Ecuador
1
Control de Tabaco, Corporate Accountability, Quito, Ecuador
2
Fundación Salud Ambiente y Desarrollo, Quito, Ecuador
3
Acción Jurídica Popular, Quito, Ecuador
4
Comité de Usuarias y Usuarios del Mercado de Alimento, Quito, Ecuador
5
Colectivo Todas y Todos por la Vida, Quito, Ecuador
Publication date: 2025-06-23
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2025;23(Suppl 1):A474
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: A second-instance court ruled in favor of a constitutional action filed by the "Colectivo todas y todos por la vida" against Decree 645, issued on January 10, 2023, by the President of the Republic, which reduced taxes on tobacco products and other products harmful to health and the environment. Despite this victory, various authorities, industries, and merchants have filed appeals with the Constitutional Court to reverse the ruling.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The citizen collective implemented a legal, edu-communication, and mobilization strategy that included various actions. Legally, they filed a constitutional action that annulled Decree 645 and an action of unconstitutionality, in addition to defending the ruling against appeals filed by authorities and business sectors. In terms of communication, they created a website, disseminated materials on social media and in the media, conducted interviews and academic discussions, and promoted a popular trial. They also gained support from national, regional, and international civil society, obtaining letters of support and amicus curiae to strengthen the judicial process.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Despite the favorable ruling, the conflict is not yet resolved due to the appeals filed by the Executive and industries. However, the litigation has generated significant social mobilization and facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration between legal, communication, and public health teams.
CONCLUSIONS: This process has strengthened the fight and provided valuable lessons that can be applied in other countries, especially in Latin America, to address similar public health and fiscal policy issues. The case allowed for the identification of the interaction between industries, political power, and the media, highlighting the importance of citizen organization in defending public policies.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The citizen collective implemented a legal, edu-communication, and mobilization strategy that included various actions. Legally, they filed a constitutional action that annulled Decree 645 and an action of unconstitutionality, in addition to defending the ruling against appeals filed by authorities and business sectors. In terms of communication, they created a website, disseminated materials on social media and in the media, conducted interviews and academic discussions, and promoted a popular trial. They also gained support from national, regional, and international civil society, obtaining letters of support and amicus curiae to strengthen the judicial process.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Despite the favorable ruling, the conflict is not yet resolved due to the appeals filed by the Executive and industries. However, the litigation has generated significant social mobilization and facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration between legal, communication, and public health teams.
CONCLUSIONS: This process has strengthened the fight and provided valuable lessons that can be applied in other countries, especially in Latin America, to address similar public health and fiscal policy issues. The case allowed for the identification of the interaction between industries, political power, and the media, highlighting the importance of citizen organization in defending public policies.
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