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To commemorate International Women's Day, messages from the highest authorities of the Council's universities will be disseminated throughout this month, reporting on the progress made and the remaining challenges in this area.
On the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8), the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) renewed its commitment to continue advancing towards a more just, equitable, and violence-free university system. Through a series of audiovisual messages, the Council's authorities highlighted the progress made in institutionalizing the gender perspective and the challenges that remain.
In the context of the commemoration of International Women's Day, the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH) shared an assessment of its management in matters of gender equality, highlighting both the milestones achieved since 2018 and the gaps that still persist in the higher education system.
The executive vice president of CRUCH and rector of the University of Tarapacá, Emilio Rodríguez, emphasized that the Council has led a profound process of change since 2018 to establish and institutionalize the pursuit of gender equity. “We have made progress in developing an framework that ranges from the design of departments to the creation of policies that impact teaching, research, community engagement, and even academic careers and personnel selection. We have undoubtedly made progress, but challenges remain, which is why we reaffirm our commitment to continue on this path of equity,» stated Rector Rodríguez.
For her part, Marisol Durán, the rector in charge of the CRUCH Gender Equality Commission and the highest authority at the Metropolitan Technological University (UTEM), praised the equity framework that has been established in higher education. She emphasized that the vast majority of Chilean universities already have gender offices and specialized teams, as well as protocols against harassment and violence.
However, Rector Durán emphasized that gaps still persist, particularly in "balanced participation in senior management positions, mainstreaming the gender approach in teaching and research, and achieving profound social and cultural change," noting that the current challenge is "to consolidate progress made, promoting and deepening joint action.".
International framework and local action
This year, the global commemoration promoted by the United Nations is taking place under the theme "Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls." The UN has issued an urgent call to dismantle the barriers that hinder equality in access to justice and emphasizes that women's progress is a driver of well-being that benefits all of society, urging institutions to move from legal commitments to transformative action.
Within this framework, the commemoration of March 8th is reflected not only in institutional statements, but also in the outreach efforts of the 30 universities that make up the Council. During these days, the universities have organized seminars, cultural events, and workshops aimed at raising awareness among university communities about women's rights.
All these initiatives are grouped in featured stories on the official CRUCH Instagram account. @councilofrectors
Text: CRUCH Communications.
Photo: United Nations https://www.un.org/es/observances/womens-day
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