Summary:
218 complaints of moral and sexual harassment reported in higher education from 2019 to 2023.
Only 18% of complaints led to sanctions for the aggressors.
Increase in reports may indicate greater awareness rather than more incidents.
Lack of specific reporting channels remains a critical issue in many institutions.
Professor Sara Falcão Casaca emphasizes the need for better systems to support victims.
A Hidden Reality in Higher Education
In Portugal, a troubling trend is emerging within higher education institutions (IES). Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 218 complaints of moral and sexual harassment were reported. Alarmingly, only 18% of these complaints resulted in any form of sanction against the aggressors.
The increase in reported incidents over the past two years does not necessarily indicate a rise in harassment cases. According to Sara Falcão Casaca, a professor at the Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão at the University of Lisbon, this could reflect greater awareness and availability of reporting channels rather than an increase in actual cases. She emphasizes that there is still much to uncover regarding harassment in these environments.
The lack of specific reporting channels for harassment cases is highlighted as a significant issue, with many institutions still lacking adequate systems to address these serious allegations.
It's clear that while more individuals are coming forward, the systems in place are still inadequate to ensure proper accountability and support for victims.
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