The CREA group (Research Community on Excellence for All), founded and directed by Ramón Flechaprofessor emeritus of sociology at the University of Barcelona denounced by 16 women for sexual abuse, announced this Tuesday its dissolution. It happened one day … after the educational center reported Flecha’s behavior to the public prosecutor’s office.
“CREA is a network of people engaged in social impact science, where each member carries out their work with full academic freedom and autonomy within their respective universities and research groups.” This is how the statement begins » was made public this Tuesday by the group specializing in cases of sexual violence. “Our mission has always been to put research at the service of those who need it most, in particular the victims who have come to us for support,” they reiterated in their press release.
As they argued in the note, the decision, which they assume “with immediate effect” They took it “with the priority objective of avoiding further professional harm” to the members of the organization, as well as “protecting their personal integrity”.
The organization denounced that “for years” They were “subjected to systematic and continuous harassment” for having provided assistance to the victims. They also added that they had been “subject to intense pressure to leave the network” on several occasions. “Those of us who did not did so faced persistent discrimination in public competitions and university appointments, with the sole aim of punishing our commitment to victims,” they lamented.
“The current campaign has exponentially intensified this pressure, harassment and discrimination, leading to serious consequences for the physical and emotional health of members. This continued harassment has become unbearable the permanence of the network”, they settled.
Last July, 14 women denounced in a letter addressed to the rector the abuse of power and sexual coercion that the professor had exercised on them for more than two decades, reports Esther Armora. In writing, They claimed to have had relationships with the accusedbut “in a context of obvious hierarchical inequality”. So, they said Flecha abused them sexually and at work.
Initially, the University of Barcelona took no action, considering that CREA had been an unaffiliated center since 2015. However, when other victims were added, it decided to temporarily suspend the professor, while ordering an investigation to clarify what had happened. Today, UB took a further step by bringing the matter to the public prosecutor’s office and suspending three other teachers. Inform Esther Armora.
About The Author
