Strengthening the work carried out by the Interdisciplinary Center for Latin American Studies and formalizing instances for the study of human rights were some of the proposals analyzed at the meeting.

A meeting aimed at continuing the joint work and strengthening the various actions developed by the Interdisciplinary Center for Latin American Studies (CIEL), of the University of La Serena, was held by the Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, and the director of the organization, Dr. Jaime Montes.

On the occasion, Montes referred to the next actions and proposals of the CIEL, among which he highlighted the Conversation on Coquimbana Cultural Identity and Defense of Heritage, which is in development, as well as participation in the creation of a Human Rights Study Center at the University, under the auspices of the Department of Education.

“We have been talking about the possibility of systematically implementing the study of human rights in the Department of Education of the University of La Serena. At the postgraduate level with the creation of a diploma course, with a strong social component and, on the other hand, a master's degree in a more academic line, for which there are already specialists who are working in both dimensions," said Montes.

According to the academic and researcher, it is necessary for our university institution to promote human rights, which helps resolve conflicts in our history and dignify human existence, in the face of the great challenges posed by a society like ours. 

“We want to work towards horizontality, and the university is the place where society thinks about itself, and therefore we want a reflective space to think and open (…). We thank the ULS for having strengthened entities such as CIEL and the activities carried out,” said Montes.

For his part, the Rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, emphasized that “as an Institution, we see the need to strengthen these issues that have been present in recent years and we have supported. Today we are starting a project of great relevance for our University, led by academics from the Department of Education, which addresses training in the field of human rights from several instances, such as the creation of the Center and the proposal to implement training programs. postgraduate and postgraduate courses that allow us to strengthen our ties with the regional and national community, in addition to a Framework Agreement with the Institute of Human Rights.”

Rector Avilés added that “this project also aims to incorporate young people, who require that the institution contribute to their comprehensive training, based on new spaces for reflection and learning, promoting the development of people in all areas and in particular on the issue of human rights, so necessary for our society.”

It should be noted that in its work to disseminate Latin American culture in various ways, CIEL organizes and supports workshops, courses, events, academic and student programs, among others. Among the initiatives carried out this year we can mention the “First Free Summer School”, held at the Las Compañías House of Culture; the “Intercultural Education” program; the “Documentary film series on human rights”; the “Gender and Sexuality” program; and the “Philosophical Conversation on identity and cultural heritage.”