Ecuadorian authorities tour CECOT and prison farm to explore inmate reintegration strategy.
As part of an official mission to learn about El Salvador’s innovative prison reform, Ecuadorian Minister of the Interior John Reimberg and Minister of Defense Gian Carlo Loffredo visited two major correctional facilities this week: the high-security Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) and the Santa Ana Industrial Prison Farm.
The visit began at CECOT, El Salvador’s state-of-the-art maximum-security facility, known internationally for its strict order, infrastructure, and control measures. Ecuadorian officials observed the prison’s internal security protocols and architectural layout, which have become a key symbol of President Nayib Bukele’s security strategy.
The delegation later traveled to the Santa Ana Industrial Center, where inmates in the trust phase of incarceration participate in the Zero Leisure Plan. This program focuses on productive reintegration through work, discipline, and technical training. The ministers toured various workshops, including welding, textiles, kitchen services, and agriculture.
“More than a prison, this looks like an industrial complex, focused above all on people’s reintegration. We are very impressed with what we have seen,” said Interior Minister Reimberg. “Their work is rebuilding hundreds of schools — it’s a successful and striking program.” He also thanked the Salvadoran government for sharing the experience and expressed Ecuador’s interest in adapting the model.
Defense Minister Loffredo added, “I am impressed with the Zero Leisure Plan because other countries tend to reduce sentences based on good behavior, not on social compensation or opportunities that truly prepare inmates to rejoin society.” The officials also confirmed they would report back to President Daniel Noboa on the practices witnessed and explore implementation in Ecuador.
During the tour, the ministers met with Salvadoran counterparts, including Minister of Justice and Public Security Gustavo Villatoro and Minister of National Defense René Merino Monroy, to discuss broader aspects of El Salvador’s security framework.
At the Santa Ana facility alone, over 8,000 inmates are currently engaged in workshops across multiple industries — agriculture, livestock, carpentry, painting, cooking, and more. These efforts aim to provide inmates with useful skills for employment upon release and to promote long-term societal reintegration.
In addition to the prison visits, Ecuadorian officials shared their impressions of the CECOT and the Santa Ana Industrial Prison Farm through official posts on their social media platforms, particularly the Ministry of Defense’s X (formerly Twitter) account. The delegation highlighted the effectiveness of the Salvadoran approach and expressed their intentions to adapt similar programs in Ecuador.
El Salvador’s Zero Leisure Plan continues to draw attention from international governments seeking to reform their own correctional systems with a focus on discipline, productivity, and dignity.