La interpretación constitucional del principio de igualdad en casos de discriminación por discapacidad en Ecuador, según la jurisprudencia de la Corte Constitucional

Abstract

Abstract: This paper aims to examine how the Constitutional Court of Ecuador has interpreted the principle of equality in cases of discrimination based on disability. Starting from the recognition that equality constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of modern constitutionalism, but that its application to people with disabilities presents particular challenges that go beyond simple equal treatment before the law. The jurisprudential analysis reveals that the Constitutional Court of Ecuador has adopted an increasingly progressive and transformative interpretation of the principle of equality; this evolution has not been accidental, but rather responds to the influence of international instruments, doctrinal development, and, fundamentally, to the need to provide effective responses to the demands for inclusion of people with disabilities. The methodology employed in this study combines jurisprudential analysis with doctrinal examination and a comparative approach, which allows for a comprehensive understanding of the subject. The findings suggest that, although significant progress has been made in the formal recognition of rights, important challenges remain in the practical implementation of truly substantive equality for persons with disabilities in Ecuador.