Bogotá Mayor's Office announces actions for the sexual protection of minors in schools in the city

After the sittings held at the Venecia and Nuevo Muzú district schools, together with the Marymount private school scandal, the Bogotá Secretary of Education announced the actions being taken by the mayor's office to care for and protect minors who are victims of sexual violence in the city's schools.

The Secretary of Education, Edna Bonilla, revealed last Wednesday the number of complaints that have reached the administration: “This year we have received 659 alerts in our system, several of which involve teachers from the institutions. At the moment we have 154 active investigations,” he said.

Among the strategies that the official announced to mitigate these violence is the strengthening of the Comprehensive Pedagogical Guidance Response program (RIoP). This plan, according to the mayor's office, was structured so that families, students, presidents and rectors receive support in this type of case and that they are addressed from the psychological, disciplinary and criminal aspects, to carry out investigations and sanctions.

You may be interested: Radiologist reportedly abused a patient who arrived after a traffic accident in Bogotá

Through this strategy, the Secretariat also carries out pedagogical workshops for the identification of potential victims who may present themselves in district schools. According to the official, when a case is known, the RioP strategy team initiates care at the school concerned and reports to the Alert System and this is transmitted to the sexual violence case management team.

At this point in the process, Bonilla emphasizes the support of the Attorney General's Office essential. “Through various communications, I have expressed to the Attorney General our willingness to continue strengthening joint work that contributes to shortening the time of criminal proceedings. We expect greater speed in the processes, joint and articulated work”, he said.

Figures presented by the district government, since the implementation of the program “it has been possible to speed up the procedural times of each case. Thus, in 11 months the number of active cases has increased from 211 in April 2021 to 154 in March 2022, of which 47 are open processes in 2021,” said the official.

It may interest you: Public complaints of alleged cases of sexual abuse may be made even if they have not been judicially proven: Court constitutional

To strengthen this preventive action, which began in 2020, the team of lawyers and psychologists will be expanded, as well as the involvement of 200 new counselors so that children and young people can report. “In the cases of teaching and administrative officials involved in these episodes, the most drastic sanctions are being imposed under the law,” Secretary Edna Bonilla announced.

He also had time to reject the assaults suffered by rectors and presidents of schools where allegations of sexual abuse had been filed. “It is they who have activated the protocols and routes of care that are available. Thanks to its work, it is possible to act from the Secretariat and the various entities in a timely manner. It is important to bear in mind that the entity must act within the framework of the law and follow due process.

Finally, the official reiterated that all the work of the District is impossible if, “the judicial and police authorities do not act in a timely, priority and forceful manner in the face of cases of sexual violence against minors.”

For her part, Mayor Claudia López has asked the prosecutor Francisco Barbosa, a specialized unit, teams of prosecutors, investigators, legal medicine, solely for the prosecution and punishment of cases of abuse and sexual violence against children in the city's school system.

KEEP READING: