Hermeneutic epistemic injustice towards women-victims of sexual and physical violence in Ecuador's justice administration system
Main Article Content
Abstract
Within the justice system, asymmetrical power relations make the testimonies of women/victims of harassment and sexual and domestic violence appear unconvincing to courts and judges. Based on an analysis of an action for protection and two court rulings, this article reveals a framework of epistemic (contextual) and hermeneutic (interpretative) injustice. The testimonies of the victims of gender-based violence were listened to with scepticism and were not understood. The rulings reveal three common elements that run through Ecuador’s justice system: 1) despite the facts of violence and the proven involvement of the aggressors, the interpretation is inadequate, and the harm caused to the victim is not confronted; 2) the application of the law favours men over women; 3) in the courts, the understanding of the harm to the victim is often not approached from a gender-based violence perspective.
Downloads
Article Details
How to Cite
Issue
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Consuelo María Bowen Manzur
Author Biography
Consuelo María Bowen Manzur (Instituto de Altos Estudios Nacionales)
Magíster en Victimología y Justicia Restaurativa





