Preferencias académicas de los estudiantes de la Carrera de Derecho y su vinculación con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) a través del estudio de sentencias

Abstract

Abstract: This paper analyzes the right to defense as an essential component of due process and its link to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which promotes access to justice and institutional strengthening. It highlights that this right, recognized by both the Constitution of Ecuador and international instruments such as the American Convention on Human Rights, guarantees equitable conditions in judicial proceedings, preventing abuses and ensuring a fair trial. In the Ecuadorian civil sphere, its effective exercise contributes to the equity, transparency, and legitimacy of judicial decisions. Furthermore, it argues that strengthening the right to defense directly impacts the reduction of impunity, facilitates the participation of vulnerable groups, and reinforces professional ethics in the administration of justice. This paper examines the right to a defense as a fundamental pillar of due process and its connection to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which promotes peaceful, just, and inclusive societies with equitable access to justice. In the Ecuadorian context, this right is enshrined in the Constitution and in international instruments such as the American Convention on Human Rights, and its effective application strengthens the legitimacy of the judicial system.