Ecuador-Colombia land border reopens as presidents Duque, Lasso meet

Colombia will support Ecuador in the prison reform that it will implement to overcome the security crisis that leaves hundreds of deaths, President Iván Duque announced on Friday in a meeting with his counterpart Guillermo Lasso.

Ecuador can count on the "unrestricted support of Colombia" to carry out the "reform of the prison system", declared Duque from the Caribbean city of Cartagena.

The president made the Ministry of Justice and the National Penitentiary Institute available for the success of the initiative.

In November, Lasso proposed a "citizen defense bill" to address the crisis that this year alone leaves 316 dead in clashes between rival gangs.

This Friday, Quito announced the creation of a commission of representatives of civil society, churches and academia that will seek tools to eradicate violence.

Duque celebrated that Lasso's proposal seeks to create a "transparent and effective system that really has re-socialization" for inmates.

The "people of Ecuador are grateful for all the help they can give us in this matter and in matters of security in general," Lasso replied.

Accompanied by their cabinets, the leaders also addressed the gradual reopening of the border, which began on Wednesday with the passage of vehicles after 20 months of closure due to the pandemic and which this Friday was extended to the passage of people.

They also discussed trade, environment and sustainable development, among other points.