Boaventura Souza Santos says the published report does not contain specific allegations of harassment

Investigator Boaventura Sousa Santos assured this Wednesday that he has never faced specific accusations of abuse of power or harassment, also noting that the report of the independent commission of the Center for Social Studies (CES) does not contain direct accusations against him.

“Personally, I am calmer today than I was a year ago. I never expected the suspicions hanging over me to be justified, because, in fact, I was never faced with specific accusations of abuse of power or persecution – as, in fact, the document itself is now certified “, – said in a statement sent to the Lusa agency.

Three researchers who attended the CES at the University of Coimbra reported situations of harassment in a book chapter entitled “Sexual misconduct in the Academy – for the ethics of care at the University”, which led researchers Boaventura Souza Santos and Bruno Sena Martins to eventually be suspended from all positions they occupied at CES.

The independent commission created to investigate complaints at the CES of the University of Coimbra published its report this Wednesday in which it confirmed the existence of patterns of behavior, abuse of power and harassment by people occupying higher hierarchical positions.

According to the published report, the independent commission received 32 complaints against 14 people, for a total of 78 complaints. Late Wednesday afternoon, the director of CES found the report’s conclusion “very disturbing,” leading to the publication of an open letter on the institution’s website in which they apologized to victims of moral and moral practices. sexual harassment, abuse, and abuse of power committed by institutional researchers.

Thiago Santos Pereira also said that a number of the complaints filed may have some criminal value, so he sent a report to the prosecutor’s office. In a statement sent to Lusa, Boaventura de Souza Santos said he hoped to receive clarification from CES that would “put an end to the atmosphere of suspicion.”

“As the founder of CES, I am more concerned today. Over the course of several months, an independent commission conducted an analysis of the institution’s 48-year activities based on 32 complaints. The report focused on issues of abuse of power, which I am not aware of. The review is even responsible for the decentralization of power,” he adds.

The sociologist also hints that the report refers to patterns of behavior over the years of people occupying higher positions in the CES hierarchy. “In this regard, I would like to remind you that the bodies of the CES include the Board, the Supervisory Board, the General Assembly, the Ethics Committee, the Academic Council and the Ombudsman. I haven’t been part of any of them since 2010,” he said. basic moments.

In his opinion, the more than 600 pages of evidence he submitted to the trial contributed to the fact that “nothing objective” was brought against him.

“Whether in the judicial or disciplinary sphere, I hope that CES management will monitor for any signs of impropriety – as it has announced that it will do – and that, based on my assessment of the report and, as far as I understand, there is no person of interest. I hope that, despite the limitations identified, this process will serve as an example for the future,” he concludes.