Within the framework of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the discussion was held at the ULS: "Intersectionality on violence against women, its causes and consequences", a binational meeting between Argentina and Chile organized by the University of La Serena, the National University of San Juan and the Regional Council of Coquimbo.

The activity was carried out at the Technology Center of the Faculty of Engineering, CETECFI, and its objective was to emphasize the importance of the exchange of experiences on gender and equality and the implementation of equality policies that regulate harassment, violence and discrimination in university institutions in the territory, both in the Coquimbo Region and in the Province of San Juan, and reinforce the need to continue developing joint actions.

The ULS Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas Escobar, attended this activity; Dr. Marinela Caro, Coordinator of the Office for Equality and Against Gender Violence; Dr. Ana Carrizo, SADOP General Secretary and former Equality Coordinator; and Susana Roldán, Director of Institutional Press, all of them members of the delegation of the National University of San Juan. Also participating were Dr. Desirée López de Maturana, head of Gender ULS; Dr. José Mora, Director of International Relations; Ximena Ampuero, regional counselor and head of the Gender and Sexual Diversity Subcommittee of the Political Dialogue Commission between Chile and Argentina, and Tatiana Cortés, regional counselor of the Province of Limarí.

The Rector of the ULS, Dr. Luperfina Rojas, referred to the importance of this meeting: “it has been a very valuable event, I want to thank the CORE, the counselors Ximena Ampuero and Tatiana Cortés, who accompanied us and who made this possible. Binational Meeting with the sister republic of Argentina and, specifically, with the National University of San Juan, because it unites us for more than a decade of joint work. Being able to address these topics that are so relevant to the University of La Serena, such as Gender, Equity, Respect for Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights, has been very valuable and we will continue working to seek the learning and best practices that are developed in Argentina and, of course, here in Chile.

Furthermore, he added that “we are hopeful to continue promoting this work and reinforcing the activities that we will carry out in the month of January, by the Network of Women Principals in Chile, in which we are hoping that the University of San Juan will also participate, through its Vice-Rector or the Gender Department. We believe that this is a very important area and the State Universities are committed to advancing more every day,” said the Rector.

On the other hand, the regional counselor Tatiana Cortés, pointed out that, within the framework of the day against violence against women, "academics from the National University of San Juan have been convened to meet with the academic world of the University of La Serena to compare and socialize the advances and protocols that exist in this matter in both institutions. These instances are appreciated and contribute in some way to the people who have this sensitivity and these concerns with injustices and violence, since they are a lot of growth and learning, especially about what is happening in Argentina not only in the field of academy, but in the political sphere.”

In turn, the regional advisor, Ximena Ampuero, pointed out that “when the Subcommittee was formed, we traveled to San Juan in February to meet with the Vice-Rector of the UNSJ, where we were able to address different topics, among them, the Gender Department, since They applied protocols to prevent violence within the UNSJ, as well as training both teachers and students, and I found it interesting to replicate it at the ULS so that the institution would let us know how to address gender violence. in educational establishments.

The person in charge of Gender ULS, Dr. Desirée López de Maturana, also referred to the holding of this meeting and its significance, stating that “it allowed us to address and concretize an initiative that had different coordinations of origin, where the authorities of both universities participated, but also the Gender Commission of the Regional Council of the Coquimbo Region. In this sense we had the opportunity to share and learn about the specific actions that the institutions are addressing, the similarities in the diagnoses and contexts in which they are developed. Also the involvement of the political sector, which certainly favors the implementation of various advocacy actions in favor of gender equality and the eradication of all types of violence against women."

Then, the voices of the experts were heard, who spoke with the purpose of sharing experiences, good practices and also reinforcing the need to generate comprehensive policies aimed at preventing, investigating, punishing and eradicating sexual harassment, violence and discrimination. gender in higher education institutions, with the aim of creating safe spaces free of sexual harassment, violence and gender discrimination.

The Presentations

Marianela Cano, lawyer responsible for the Office for Gender Equality Against Violence and Discrimination of the University of San Juan, presented the topic "Raise awareness and disseminate to report, action protocol of the UNSJ, achievements and powers."

The next speaker, also from the UNSJ, was the lawyer Ana Carrizo Páez, who presented: “Training on gender issues, institutional challenges for the removal of sociocultural patterns”

Subsequently, it was the turn of the director of the UNSJ Institutional Press Department, Susana Graciela Roldan, who addressed “Communication and Gender, words that bother.”

Finally, Dr. Desirée López de Maturana, academic at the Dept. of Education, presented “Gender Perspective at the ULS.”

Written by Paz Montecinos, DirCom