Paúl Guañuna, a 16-year-old from the indigenous parish of Zámbiza, was killed by police in Quito in 2007. The case shocked youth groups in working-class neighborhoods, who denounced the systematic harassment of young people. David Lasso researched and filmed the documentary Guañuna, documenting the legal proceedings surrounding this state-sanctioned crime.
You can watch the film in Spanish aquí
WHY AN EDUCATIONAL GUIDE? Since its premiere, we have held over a hundred screenings and forums. Fear, helplessness, and sadness were laid bare, and we didn’t quite know how to address them.
This guide, designed by Alejandro Cevallos, aims to address those feelings through three core ideas:
– In the face of pain, injustice, and violence, we do not want to feel alone.
– Abuse of power is not extraordinary: it happens every day and has historical roots.
– Against authoritarianism, we do not forget.
We believe the film and the workshops using the guide are urgent. Since the declaration of “internal armed conflict” (January 9, 2024), the government of Daniel Noboa has decreed 23 states of emergency, militarizing daily life and restricting rights. These measures have been accompanied by human rights violations that constitute crimes against humanity: at least 51 forced disappearances (2024–2026), extrajudicial executions, torture, and a growing number of civilian casualties. Young people from working-class communities are on the front lines.
You can read and download the guide aquí.
You can read the resource “Timeline of Police Violence Against Youth” aquí.
For more information on this project: clik aquí