Gender Equality Commission
The rector of the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences recently assumed the role of head of the commission.
In her initial activities, she highlighted the institutional progress in gender equality and proposed presenting the pending challenges to the CRUCH Plenary to guide the next steps.
“Leading the CRUCH Gender Equality Commission is an honor that I accept with responsibility and great confidence in the knowledge and conviction of those who have built and continue to strengthen this network. Because if there is one thing we have learned from the struggle of women, it is that this is a collective cause,” said Solange Tenorio, Rector of the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences (UMCE), in one of her first activities as the new head of the commission.
The rector assumed this role by agreement of the Plenary of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), adopted in the session of September 24, giving continuity to the work that until then was carried out by the rector of the Metropolitan Technological University (UTEM), Marisol Durán.
Thus, more than a month after assuming this responsibility, he has already participated in two events organized by the commission in early October: the III Seminar “Gender in the classroom: How do we continue to incorporate the gender approach into the university curriculum and teaching practice?” and the plenary session of gender directors. On both occasions, she highlighted the important work carried out by the commission, as well as the need to sustain the progress achieved and address the inequalities that still persist in universities.
“We know this is a job that needs to be done every day, that it’s a process,” he noted. From that perspective, he proposed presenting a report to the CRUCH Plenary on the commission’s work, to review the progress made and remaining challenges together with university authorities and to guide the next steps.
The rector maintained that quality higher education entails recognizing the dignity of all people, addressing inequalities, and building more equitable, inclusive learning environments free from violence and discrimination. She also expressed her willingness to contribute to this goal, which she defined as a shared responsibility.
Progress and challenges in gender equality
Rector Tenorio referred to the seven commitments adopted by the CRUCH in the session of May 31, 2018, when it was agreed to create the Gender Equality Commission, and to the progress made in its implementation.
These commitments aimed to incorporate gender equality as a structural axis of university life; to develop and implement institutional policies on this matter; to create
and strengthen a specialized institutional framework; have protocols against sexual harassment, violence and gender discrimination; develop mandatory training and awareness actions; prepare diagnoses and generate information with this focus; and advance towards substantive equality and balanced participation in university decision-making and representation spaces.
“Since then, our universities have come a long way in terms of progress and challenges. Gender institutions have been created and strengthened, policies and plans have been developed, and new capacities, protocols, and assessments have been generated,” the rector stated.
Currently, all CRUCH universities have specialized units and updated regulations; more than 80% have explicitly incorporated the gender approach into their strategic and development plans; nearly 75% have gender equality policies and around 57% have action plans to implement them.
Meanwhile, the country has made progress in establishing a regulatory framework that sets specific responsibilities for higher education institutions. “Law 21.369, in 2021, mandated the inclusion of content on human rights and the eradication of gender-based violence and discrimination in curricula. And Law 21.675, in 2024, further developed this mandate regarding gender equality, the prevention of gender-based violence, and discrimination,” Tenorio pointed out.
While the laws establish obligations for institutions, the rector stressed that "as universities we are called to turn those commitments into concrete transformations in culture and in our practices.".
Text: CRUCH Communications
Photographs: Courtesy of UMCE, UChile
Spanish 
English