The Bogotá Ministry of Education has announced that to date there are 659 alerts on possible sexual violence involving minors throughout the city, of which 154 cases have been reported in both public and private schools, and that they are already under investigation.
According to Edna Bonilla, Minister of Education, the report was processed in a timely manner. However, he noted that reports of sexual harassment or abuse increase in schools in Bogotá as more cases were revealed in the city. Faced with the panorama, officials urged parents and students not to report these incidents to the relevant authorities without progressing.
The official then explained that out of the 154 disciplinary procedures disclosed to officials for alleged sexual violence against minors, 85% were complaints involving girls between 13 and 17 years of age, and 11% were from elementary school students or kindergarten students.
The Minister of Education also added that among the types of sexual violence under investigation to date are physical access or abusive sexual behavior with an irresistible person, abusive physical access to children under 14 years of age, abusive sexual behavior, sexual harassment and rudeness. At the event, officials stressed that 54 teachers were removed from their posts.
“As a minister, through various communications, I have expressed to the Attorney General of the country that I will continue to strengthen collaboration that contributes to reducing the time for criminal proceedings, such as shortening the time for disciplinary proceedings within the enterprise.It is a fundamental right for everyone. However, it is expected that the speed of processes and joint and joint work will increase.” Bonilla said about the situation.
In the context of these complaints, the Minister of Education reported that a series of measures were taken not only to prevent cases of sexual violence in urban schools, but also to respond to complaints in a timely manner.
As Bonilla explained, among the measures taken, 200 new school counselors were connected, allowing children and adolescents to report cases of sexual violence, and an interdisciplinary work team was created responsible for handling complaints raised as a priority.
Likewise, he reported that “a team of lawyers and psychologists from the Office of Internal Discipline Control has been strengthened to accelerate cases of sexual abuse in schools.” For professors and administrative officials involved in such acts, they imposed “the most drastic according to the law.”
The Minister of Education concluded by reiterating the denial of acts of violence against students, urging parents, officials, boys, girls and young people alike to report criminal acts that infringe minors in order to take legal action.
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