So far this year the Autonomous University of Querétaro has dismissed two teachers for harassing behavior, declared the rector, Teresa Garcia Gasca, who said that a protocol has been created to avoid more cases in the institution.
In an interview, she highlighted that there are currently five investigation files open in the university’s legal area due to harassment in different academic units, so the protocol will allow students to submit complaints or doubts about the subject.
“We’ve had meetings with different groups of managers, secretaries and operating groups, and we have the first protocol for any girl with the slightest doubt that she is being harassed, we have to assess whether it is harassment or not and in this assessment we’ll also work to create awareness of the importance of avoiding these inappropriate behaviors,” said Garcia Gasca.
(Photo: diarioqueretaro.com.mx)
The protocol works through a lawyer who is the first contact with any student who files a complaint, opens an information sheet and analyses the case, resolving it at a conciliatory level and ultimately taking it to the legal field and take the corresponding actions.
The rector of the UAQ said that during the past year they also worked permanently, since many cases are reported, however, at a legal level in most cases the evidence is not sufficient and conclusive for a termination of employment.
“Possibly for cultural reasons, women mistreatment has been seen as normal for many years in Mexico, and some men might think that harassment is harmless and they do not consider it violence towards women, so we have to begin by making these men aware and make the whole population understand the importance of respect towards women”, added Teresa García Gasca.
Finally, she said that after the dismissal of these two professors, the university did not file a criminal complaint, and they have not filed any labor complaint agaisnt the institution.
Source: diariodequeretaro.com.mx
