The Italian Ambassador to Ecuador, Giovanni Davoli, was heard by the Security Commission of the South American country's National Assembly regarding the draft law on prison system reform. The ambassador highlighted that, since 2022, Italy has been leading judicial cooperation projects in Ecuador, implemented by the IILA – the Italo-Latin American International Organisation – and directed by an Italian magistrate seconded to the country. The current project, ITAJUS (funded by the Italy-Ecuador Fund for Sustainable Development), took over in 2024 from the previous EURESP project (funded by European resources). Within the scope of these initiatives, Ecuadorian authorities were advised of the need to prioritise reform and strengthening of the prison system, deemed an essential tool in the fight against organised crime afflicting the country. Ambassador Davoli noted that the reform under discussion aligns with recommendations made by Italian experts, particularly regarding the professionalisation and reinforcement of the prison police. He also recalled Italy’s own experience in the last century, which led to significant achievements in combating mafia organisations. Davoli went on to congratulate the Ecuadorian government and National Assembly for their current legislative efforts following the most recent political and presidential elections, which—as stated by President Noboa himself—are prioritising laws inspired by Italy’s anti-mafia strategies. Commission President Ines Alarcon thanked the ambassador for his participation and welcomed his suggestion to subsequently invite ITAJUS experts to delve deeper into technical matters and hear their proposals. This marks the second time this year that the Italian ambassador has addressed the Security Commission, confirming the central role of Italian judicial diplomacy in supporting Ecuador’s fight against mafia networks.