Spanish newspaper suspends cooperation with Boaventura de Souza Santos

The Spanish newspaper Publico has suspended an opinion column that the Portuguese sociologist Boaventura de Sousa Santos wrote in this media outlet due to allegations of harassment and sexual assault that have been known in recent days.

“After learning of these allegations, Publico has suspended cooperation with Sousa Santos until the university’s investigation is completed. [de Coimbra]” writes the digital newspaper, one of Spain’s national media.

In a text published on Saturday under the heading “Several women accuse Portuguese sociologist Boaventura de Souza Santos of sexual harassment for almost a decade”, the newspaper reports on the accusations known in recent days, reports that the University of Coimbra has suspended the professor from his duties and that Publico also decided to suspend the opinion column “Espiritos Espiritos” by the researcher.

Last week, allegations of sexual harassment were made public by three former researchers at the Center for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra against two professors, Boaventura de Sousa Santos and Bruno Sena Martins, who denied them.

Three CES researchers denounced incidents of harassment and sexual abuse by these two members of the research center in a chapter of Sexual Misconduct in Academia – The Ethics of Nursing in the University, published by an international publisher. Routledge.

Since the publication of this book, other women have also accused Boaventura de Sousa Santos of harassment and sexual assault.

In a statement released Friday, Boaventura de Sousa Santos said he decided to withdraw from CES so that “the institution can conduct, with all necessary independence, investigations of the information provided and provide implications for the internal review process” through an independent panel.

The CES itself also said on Friday that investigators have been “suspended from all positions they have held” at the facility pending the findings of an independent commission that is investigating the allegations.

Boaventura de Sousa Santos is the Honorary Director of CES and Scientific Coordinator of the Permanent Observatory of Portuguese Justice at that institution, and is also on the Standing Committee of the Research Center’s Scientific Council.

Bruno Sena Martins, who graduated in Anthropology, according to the CES website, is Co-Coordinator of the Human Rights in Contemporary Societies Doctoral Program and Professor of the Postcolonialism and Global Citizenship Doctoral Program, having served as Vice President, Chairman of the Scientific Council since 2017 to 2019.