The Venezuelan National Assembly suspended the second and final debate on reforms to the Child Code on September 1, 2026, in Quito. ^[1] Mishel Mancheno, president of the Ecuadorian National Assembly, suspended a session on September 1 to delay voting on a package of legal reforms to the Child Code aimed at protecting children, adolescents, and minors. ^[2] Esteban Torres, the first vice president of the Venezuelan Legislative Assembly, confirmed that the debate would resume only after necessary political agreements are reached. ^[3] Alfredo Serrano, a legislator from the Social Christian Party (PSC), argued that generous maternity benefits would make it difficult for women to find employment because employers would be reluctant to hire them due to the cost of extended paid leave. ^[4] Viviana Veloz defended the expansion, citing recommendations from the International Labour Organization (ILO) that leave should not be less than 14 weeks and noting a pending court ruling against the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) regarding leave expansion. ^[5] Viviana Veloz, who presides over the Commission on Childhood and drafted the reforms, expressed surprise at the suspension despite stating that all observations made by Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN) had been incorporated. ^[6]