Chega introduced a bill this Wednesday that aims to make it mandatory for channels to report moral and sexual harassment in higher education institutions, targeting not only students but also teaching and non-teaching staff.
In the draft, the party led by André Ventura proposes a number of changes to the legal regime of higher education institutions, namely that the state should ensure “the existence of a physical reporting channel, but also in a digital format, which allows students, but also for teaching and non-teaching staff to report about situations of moral and/or sexual oppression at the university level.”
In this context, “higher education institutions should also provide students with information on access to psychological and/or legal support, and for this purpose they may enter into protocols with victim support associations or have their own resources,” the text says.
Chega also wants higher education institutions to include in their annual performance report “the number of complaints filed through their own channels established for this purpose regarding moral and sexual harassment, as well as the number of complaints filed with the existing competent authorities.” these processes or disciplinary processes.”
In the text, the parliamentary group argues that “it is important to legally require every institution of higher education to have a mechanism for reporting and reporting possible cases of moral and sexual harassment, as well as established time frames for investigating these cases.” facts, making a decision and opening disciplinary proceedings if necessary.”
“As the response must be victim-centred and not all victims are comfortable with some common mechanisms, there is an urgent need to provide multiple reporting options. If digital platforms allow the victim’s identity to be protected, there are no restrictions on the response. thus, it is critical to ensure that there is a physical space and support services that victims can count on to share their concerns,” the text reads.
The party says that in May the government announced the creation of a commission responsible for setting a strategy to prevent harassment in universities and polytechnics, following complaints from several educational institutions in the country, “so far there has been no information on the progress of this commission.”
“We are about to start another academic year without guaranteeing a safe environment for students, teaching and non-teaching staff to report situations that are being targeted and have their complaints answered and have practical consequences. In the absence of clear guidance from the Ministry of Accountability, these cases and these victims will continue to be subject to the arbitrariness and predisposition of the institutions to which they belong to have better or worse practices in supporting victims,” criticizes the parliamentary group.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal

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