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In a public statement, the rectors of the 30 universities that make up CRUCH declared that “to overcome arbitrary discrimination, inequalities, stereotypes, and gender hierarchies, it is essential to ensure non-sexist education at all educational levels. Consequently, we consider it essential that this be explicitly established in the Law on Women's Right to a Life Free of Violence.”.
The Council expressed its disagreement with the request from a group of parliamentarians before the Constitutional Court to declare the inapplicability of the clause of article 12 of the law, which refers to non-sexist education.
“The Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) values that the Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence was passed on March 6, after seven years of processing in the National Congress,” states the public declaration released this Monday, March 25.
The second paragraph of article 12 of the legal text establishes that “educational establishments recognized by the State must promote non-sexist education with gender equality and consider in their internal regulations and protocols the promotion of equality in dignity and rights and the prevention of gender violence in all its forms.”.
With regard to part of this clause, a group of parliamentarians asked the Constitutional Court to declare it inapplicable, arguing that non-sexist education violates the preferential right of mothers and fathers to choose the education of their daughters and sons and the freedom of teaching.
In this context, the rectors of the 30 universities stated that “as a Council, we express our disagreement with this challenge,” arguing that “the civic values of freedom of teaching and the right of mothers and fathers to define the education of daughters and sons are not in contradiction with the rights and dignity of women and men.”.
On the other hand, the statement specified that “in reality, non-sexist education does not promote a single teaching approach nor does it seek to impose moral or religious convictions. On the contrary, it proposes a technical and methodological framework that allows educational communities to be treated with gender equality and non-discrimination, while simultaneously eliminating existing gender gaps and stereotypes.”.
The statement also asserts that “as CRUCH, we value the diversity of educational projects, since such diversity is a strength of the system. Furthermore, non-sexist education constitutes a human right and responds to principles shared by society regarding equality and non-discrimination. Therefore, under no circumstances can compliance with universal principles and values infringe upon diversity.”.
Finally, the Council of Rectors, in addition to reaffirming its commitment to “gender equality and equal rights for all people, recognizing their inherent dignity, regardless of creed, age, social class, culture, gender or sexual orientation, language, or condition,” maintains that to overcome “arbitrary discrimination, inequalities, stereotypes, and gender hierarchies, it is essential to ensure non-sexist education at all educational levels. Consequently, we deem it imperative that this be explicitly established in the Law on Women’s Right to a Life Free of Violence.”.
Text: CRUCH Communications
Photo: USACH Daily
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