Abstract

Introduction

Violence against women while at University is a topic that generates interest in different areas of knowledge. In Brazil, it is still little explored due to the scarcity of published experiences about the confrontation of the phenomenon by Universities.

Faced with this reality, this study discusses some issues about violence against women in the University. It presents proposals for an institutional approach to this phenomenon, which are based on the experience of a Commission to investigate allegations of discrimination, harassment and violence against women and gender on the University of São Paulo Campus in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil ( CAV-Mulheres USP-RP ) and other movements within the University of São Paulo (USP).

The research came from dialogues with groups, formed at USP, which looked for answers to the different forms of violence against women in a university environment. This issue gained national visibility in 2014, when the report of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) was completed “to investigate violations of human rights and other illegalities occurring in the settings of the Universities of the State of São Paulo in what is known as “hazing”, parties and the academic everyday, the “CPI of hazing”¹1. Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo. Relatório da Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito, para investigar violações dos Direitos Humanos e demais ilegalidades ocorridas no âmbito das Universidades do Estado de São Paulo ocorridas nos chamados “trotes”, festas e no seu cotidiano. Diário Oficial do Estado de São Paulo. 15 Abr 2015. .

The final report of this CPI highlighted the violence committed in the context of university relations that took place in the universities of São Paulo, including the largest public university in the country, USP. It also allowed us to identify that violence against women in universities manifests itself in a variety of ways: sexual violence at parties; some practices considered as torture by the report; the reproduction of song lyrics from the baterias (organized faculty musical/drumming group of supporters) with discriminatory content against women and afro-Brazilians at parties and sporting events. The report also revealed situations of violence and discrimination against women according to race / color, between male and female teachers, and male and female employees¹1. Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo. Relatório da Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito, para investigar violações dos Direitos Humanos e demais ilegalidades ocorridas no âmbito das Universidades do Estado de São Paulo ocorridas nos chamados “trotes”, festas e no seu cotidiano. Diário Oficial do Estado de São Paulo. 15 Abr 2015. .

The CPI identified the omission by the University to investigate complaints, as well as the indirect promotion of violence through academic centers, athletic associations and baterias , which, despite not forming part of its administrative structure, are part of daily life¹1. Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo. Relatório da Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito, para investigar violações dos Direitos Humanos e demais ilegalidades ocorridas no âmbito das Universidades do Estado de São Paulo ocorridas nos chamados “trotes”, festas e no seu cotidiano. Diário Oficial do Estado de São Paulo. 15 Abr 2015. . In this way, the report recognized the responsibility of universities for human rights violations, especially the right of women to live a life free of violence.

Under the terms of the Convention of Belém do Pará²2. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto nº 1.973, de 1º de Agosto de 1996. Promulga a Convenção Interamericana para Prevenir, Punir e Erradicar a Violência contra a Mulher, concluída em Belém do Pará, em 9 de Junho de 1994. Diário Oficial da União. 2 Ago 1996. , Brazilian universities may be held responsible for the violence against women that occurs in their contexts, since, in signing the convention, Brazil has undertaken to provide women with a life free of violence, and the obligation to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women.

The right to live a life free of violence, protected by the UN, includes the right not to suffer institutional violence, which occurs when there is an absence of the institution in the confrontation or provocation of violence³3. Organização das Nações Unidas. Declaração da ONU sobre a eliminação da violência contra a mulher. Artigo 1 da Resolução 484 da Assembleia Geral da ONU. Genebra: ONU; 1993. .

Being aware of the responsibility of universities for the violations of rights that occur on the premises, people in the university community began to demand that, instead of non-action, the universities respond effectively and formally to violence against women.

Research conducted by the Avon and Popular Data Institutes involving students from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country points out that 67% of the interviewees have already faced some type of violence in the university environment. The results also identify the academic community’s desire to see the problem confronted by the institution, since 88% of men and 95% of women interviewed “believe that the college should create a means to punish those responsible for committing violence against women in the institution”⁴4. Scavone M. Violência contra a mulher no ambiente universitário [Internet]. São Paulo: Instituto Avon; 2015 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.ouvidoria.ufscar.br/arquivos/PesquisaInstitutoAvon_V9_FINAL_Bx20151.pdf
http://www.ouvidoria.ufscar.br/arquivos/... (p. 11).

In this context, the mobilization was intensified in search of formal responses from Brazilian HEIs to violence against women in the university. At USP, teachers and researchers, recognizing university violence as structural and thinking about ways to act institutionally in coping with violence, formed the “ Rede Não Cala! ” (not be silent network), to find a way to stop cases of sexual and gender violence, to help the students, to listen to them, to help them with the care they need and to protect their rights⁵5. Cruz EF, Almeida HB, Lucas D’Oliveira AFP, Lima EFA, Lago C, Machado AM. Don’t stay silent: network of female professors against gender violence at University of São Paulo (USP). Special Issue ‘Sex and Power in the University’. Ann Rev Crit Psychol. 2018; 15:223-45. .

In June 2015, USP signed up for the HeforShe Program, an initiative by UN Women⁶6. Organização das Nações Unidas. Movimento ElesPorElas (HeForShe) de Solidariedade da ONU Mulheres pela Igualdade de Gênero – Impactando Universidades. Genebra: ONU; 2015 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.onumulheres.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ElesPorElas_universidades.pdf
http://www.onumulheres.org.br/wp-content... that seeks to promote equality between men and women, involving women in the pursuit of gender equity. One of the actions that resulted from the adhesion of USP to HeforShe was the creation in February 2016 of the USP Women’s Office, whose function is to carry out actions to promote gender equality in the university context, with priority being given to addressing violence against women in this context.

During this period, groups of students were created aiming at giving visibility to situations of gender violence on the USP campus in Ribeirão Preto / SP. In response to the demands of women - employees, teachers and students, the Board of Directors created, in August 2016, CAV-Mulheres USP-RP . Other faculties of this campus also created commissions with similar objectives, such as the Ribeirão Preto Law School (FDRP), which created the Gender Violence Commission of FDRP and the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, which created the Human Rights Commission⁷7. Portaria do Conselho Gestor do campus de Ribeirão Preto nº 6, de 11 de Julho de 2016. Dispõe sobre a criação de Comissão para apurar denúncias de discriminação, assédio e violência contra mulheres e gêneros no campus USP de Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo (USP); 2016.

8. Portaria Interna FDRP/USP nº 6, de 6 de Julho de 2016. Dispõe sobre a criação da Comissão de Violência e Gênero da Faculdade de Direito de Ribeirão Preto FDRP/USP. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo (USP); 2016. - ⁹9. Portaria Interna FMRP-USP n° 45, de 5 de Agosto de 2016. Dispõe sobre a criação da Comissão de Direitos Humanos da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto FMRP/USP. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo (USP); 2016. .

We found ourselves to be close to the process of building these last three commissions and the responses offered to face violence against women on the USP campus in Ribeirão Preto.

Throughout this research, we have identified that the problem has been investigated in other universities in Brazil⁴4. Scavone M. Violência contra a mulher no ambiente universitário [Internet]. São Paulo: Instituto Avon; 2015 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.ouvidoria.ufscar.br/arquivos/PesquisaInstitutoAvon_V9_FINAL_Bx20151.pdf
http://www.ouvidoria.ufscar.br/arquivos/... , ¹⁰10. Zotareli VM. Violência de gênero e sexual entre discentes de uma universidade paulista [dissertação]. Campinas: Universidade Estadual de Campinas; 2010. and in other countries¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011.

12. Potter RH, Krider JE, McMahon PM. Examining elements of campus sexual violence policies. Violence Against Women. 2000; 6(12):1345-62.

13. Krebs C, Lindquist CH, Warner TD, Fisher BS, Martin SL. The campus sexual assault (CSA) study: final report. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice; 2007.

14. Valls-Carol R. Violencia de género en las universidades españolas. Memoria Final. 2006-2008. Exp. 50/05. Ministerio de Igualdad. Madrid: Secretaria General de Políticas de Igualdad. Instituto de la mujer; 2009. - ¹⁵15. Fisher BS, Cullen FT, Turner MG. The sexual victimization of college women. Research Report. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice; 2000. . In these universities there are commissions, guidelines, coping protocols, codes of conduct and other initiatives to address violations of human rights against women.

In the United States, for example, the issue has been at the forefront since the 1990s, when research on the subject emerged, accompanied by mobilizations of the student community, calling for university policies to address violence against women¹²12. Potter RH, Krider JE, McMahon PM. Examining elements of campus sexual violence policies. Violence Against Women. 2000; 6(12):1345-62. .

These efforts gave rise to national legislation which created obligations for universities in that country. However, the creation of norms is insufficient, since it is necessary for the problems to be effectively faced by legally responsible institutions¹³13. Krebs C, Lindquist CH, Warner TD, Fisher BS, Martin SL. The campus sexual assault (CSA) study: final report. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice; 2007. .

Regarding institutional responses in addressing gender violence, Brazil has a system of protection of the human rights for women. This protection is based on the Maria da Penha law¹⁶16. Brasil. Presidência da República. Lei n° 11.340, de 7 de Agosto de 2006. Lei Maria da Penha. Diário Oficial da União. 07 Ago 2006. , achieved by the feminist movement and the women’s movement in Brazil, who are still in constant dialogue with international organizations to protect the human rights of women.

The achievement of the Maria da Penha Law, the basis of the National Policy of confronting Violence Against Women, was possible because Brazil was already a signatory of the Convention of Belém do Pará²2. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto nº 1.973, de 1º de Agosto de 1996. Promulga a Convenção Interamericana para Prevenir, Punir e Erradicar a Violência contra a Mulher, concluída em Belém do Pará, em 9 de Junho de 1994. Diário Oficial da União. 2 Ago 1996. and the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women¹⁷17. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto nº 4.377, de 13 de Setembro de 2002. Promulga a Convenção sobre a Eliminação de Todas as Formas de Discriminação contra a Mulher (1979). Diário Oficial da União. 13 Set 2002. .

The fight against violence against women is still under construction and in dispute in this country. Although we have a system of protection of women’s human rights, bodies responsible for monitoring compliance with international treaties, have verified that the obligations agreed upon are not being effectively fulfilled. In Brazil, research also points out that the institutional response to violence against women may result in the practice of institutional violence and re-victimization¹⁸18. Maito DC. Parâmetros teóricos e normativos para o enfrentamento à violência contra as mulheres na Universidade de São Paulo [dissertação]. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo; 2017. .

This institutional violence occurs because the legal practices of confronting violence against women are impregnated by a sexist culture that has not yet incorporated the system of protection of women’s human rights, as recommended by the international conventions to which Brazil is a signatory.

In view of the violations of the human rights of women in a university context, the main objective of this research was to propose institutional forms and normative-dogmatic parameters for confronting violence in this context, emphasizing the legal responsibility of HEIs. This proposal is a contribution to the University to address the issue in other ways, building new ways to address violence against women, critically understanding the institutional paths that already exist and seeking to create new ones.

Methodology

Narrative review of literature

Initially, we conducted a narrative bibliographical review¹⁸18. Maito DC. Parâmetros teóricos e normativos para o enfrentamento à violência contra as mulheres na Universidade de São Paulo [dissertação]. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo; 2017. , covering specific studies on violence against women, carried out in North American, European and Latin American universities. We used the term “gender violence at university”, with or without quotation marks in the CAPES journal portal. With this in mind, we found that there are initiatives in Europe and Latin America in this area and also that experiences in good dialogical practices for the prevention of violence against women¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. are present in the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and in universities in the United Kingdom.

The institutional responses outlined in other countries should be analyzed considering the specificities of those societies, be it their social configuration or their legal system.

We carried out a bibliographical review of American and European studies, with an analysis of legislation on the subject, taking care not to suggest legal transplants¹⁹19. Maldonado DEB. O formalismo jurídico, a educação jurídica e a prática profissional do direito na américa latina. Rev Fac Direito UFG. 2012; 36(2):101-34. , which can occur when norms are brought from one legal system to another without a reflection on the implications that can bring to the legal social reality of the receiving end.

We also searched for studies that analyzed the effectiveness of policies to combat violence against women in Brazil²⁰20. McDowell Santos C. Curto-circuito, falta de linha ou na linha? Redes de enfrentamento à violência contra mulheres em São Paulo. Estud Fem. 2015; 23(2):577-600.

21. McDowell Santos C. Da delegacia da mulher à lei Maria da Penha: absorção/tradução de demandas feministas pelo Estado. Rev Crit Cienc Soc. 2010; 89:153-70. - ²²22. Calazans M, Cortes I. O processo de criação, aprovação e implementação da Lei Maria da Penha. In:Campos CH. Lei Maria da Penha comentada em uma perspectiva jurídico-feminista. Rio de Janeiro: Lumen Juris; 2011. p. 39-63. .

Document analysis

Next, we looked for documents on human rights and women’s human rights, to understand the construction of these rights and the obligations that were pledged by the States in the signing of these international treaties. The documents were selected in accordance with the production of organs such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the United Nations and the Organization of American States²³23. Crenshaw K. A intersecionalidade na discriminação de raça e gênero. In: VV. AA. Cruzamento: raça e gênero. Brasília: Unifem; 2004.

24. Polanco NL, Taschane CL. Los sistemas internacionales de protección de derechos humanos. In: Polanco NL. Derechos humanos y mujeres: teoría y práctica. Santiago: Facultad de Derecho Universidad de Chile; 2013. p. 69-112. - ²⁵25. Polanco NL, Manleón LF. Feminismos, género y derecho. In: Polanco NL. Derechos humanos y mujeres: teoría y práctica. Santiago: Facultad de Derecho Universidad de Chile; 2013. p. 33-68. .

In regard to the international approach to women’s human rights and treaty-signing obligations, we have collected data from the following international documents: Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women¹⁷17. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto nº 4.377, de 13 de Setembro de 2002. Promulga a Convenção sobre a Eliminação de Todas as Formas de Discriminação contra a Mulher (1979). Diário Oficial da União. 13 Set 2002. ; Convention on All Forms of Racial Discrimination²⁶26. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto n° 65.810, de 8 de Dezembro de 1969. Promulga a Convenção Internacional sobre a Eliminação de todas as Formas de Discriminação Racial. Diário Oficial da União. 8 Dez 1969. ; UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women³3. Organização das Nações Unidas. Declaração da ONU sobre a eliminação da violência contra a mulher. Artigo 1 da Resolução 484 da Assembleia Geral da ONU. Genebra: ONU; 1993. ; Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women²2. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto nº 1.973, de 1º de Agosto de 1996. Promulga a Convenção Interamericana para Prevenir, Punir e Erradicar a Violência contra a Mulher, concluída em Belém do Pará, em 9 de Junho de 1994. Diário Oficial da União. 2 Ago 1996. ; International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities²⁷27. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto nº 6.949, de 25 de Agosto de 2009. Promulga a Convenção Internacional sobre os Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência e seu Protocolo Facultativo. Diário Oficial da União. 25 Ago 2009. ; General Recommendation no. 19 of the CEDAW Committee²⁸28. Organização das Nações Unidas. Recomendação Geral n. 19. Genebra: ONU, Comitê sobre a Eliminação da Discriminação contra as Mulheres; 1992. ; and General Recommendation no. 33 of the CEDAW Committee²⁹29. Organização das Nações Unidas. Recomendação Geral n. 33 sobre o acesso das mulheres à justiça. Pandjiarjian V, tradutor. Genebra: ONU, Comitê sobre a Eliminação da Discriminação contra as Mulheres; 2016. .

In addition, we reviewed US public documents, such as federal laws, government reports, and institutional websites on violence against women in universities, to extract information on the configuration of public policies to address violence against women in universities in that country. In the same way, we analyzed Spanish and Latin American legislation along with legislation on violence against women, cited or referenced in the literature review¹⁴14. Valls-Carol R. Violencia de género en las universidades españolas. Memoria Final. 2006-2008. Exp. 50/05. Ministerio de Igualdad. Madrid: Secretaria General de Políticas de Igualdad. Instituto de la mujer; 2009. .

We also conducted document analysis of national administrative and educational laws, as well as the report produced by the CPI on hazing¹1. Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo. Relatório da Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito, para investigar violações dos Direitos Humanos e demais ilegalidades ocorridas no âmbito das Universidades do Estado de São Paulo ocorridas nos chamados “trotes”, festas e no seu cotidiano. Diário Oficial do Estado de São Paulo. 15 Abr 2015. and some conclusive committee documents on the subject at USP.

For the study of the national legislative production on women’s human rights, we analyzed the protective laws and those identified as discriminatory by feminists. In addition to the Maria da Penha Law¹⁶16. Brasil. Presidência da República. Lei n° 11.340, de 7 de Agosto de 2006. Lei Maria da Penha. Diário Oficial da União. 07 Ago 2006. , which deals with the confrontation of violence against women in Brazil, we analyzed the documents of the then Special Secretary for Policy for Women³⁰30. Brasil. Presidência da República. Plano Nacional de Políticas para as Mulheres. Brasília, DF: Secretaria Especial de Políticas para as Mulheres; 2004.

31. Brasil. Presidência da República. II Plano Nacional de Políticas para as Mulheres. Brasília, DF: Secretaria Especial de Políticas para as Mulheres; 2008.

32. Brasil. Presidência da República. III Plano Nacional de Políticas para as Mulheres. Brasília, DF: Secretaria de Políticas para as Mulheres; 2013. - ³³33. Brasil. Presidência da República. Política Nacional de Enfrentamento à Violência contra as Mulheres. Brasília, DF: Secretaria de Políticas para as Mulheres; 2011. relative to the National Policy to Combat Violence Against Women.

Participant Observation

We used participant observation as a complementary approach, concomitant with the narrative literature review and document analysis, to accompany social mobilization and the construction of policies to address violence against women within USP. The participant observation allowed the researchers to place themselves in the position of the people that make up the phenomenon to be observed, allowing for the understanding of habits, attitudes, interests, personal relations and characteristics of the daily life of a group³⁴34. Richardson RJ. Pesquisa social. Métodos e técnicas. 3a ed. São Paulo: Atlas; 2009. and to describe, explain and understand events and behaviors in an interpretive form³⁵35. Vergara SC. Métodos de coleta de dados no campo. 2a ed. São Paulo: Atlas; 2012. .

Participant observation allowed us to understand the scenario where we were and the knowledge we produced. The field diary was the instrument used for the collection of data: the written report of the lived experiences. This instrument allows for simultaneous events to be recorded with their spontaneous occurrence, enabling the phenomenon to be known without intermediaries, avoiding the occurrence of distortion by the informants³⁶36. López N, Sandoval I. Métodos y técnicas de investigación cuantitativa y cualitativa. Documento de trabajo, Sistema de Universidad Virtual. México: Universidad de Guadalajara; 2006. .

In the follow-up to the social process that took place at USP, in the construction of actions to combat violence against women, we sought to record and understand the whole process, while making allowances based on the local reality, since most of the documents on violence against women at university comes from other countries.

The researchers’ participation in groups and commissions occurred in the period from 10/15/2015 to 06/20/2017. In all, there were 12 sessions of the Gender Violence Commission of the FDRP-USP, one in-person meeting of the Rede Não Cala! , four meetings of the CAV- Mulheres USP-RP and four meetings of the Violence and Gender group, created after the course of Reception of Gender Violence at the University, with teachers, students, social workers and psychologists from the USP campus in Ribeirão Preto.

As a way of guaranteeing an ethical commitment, the guidelines contained in National Health Council Resolution No. 510 of April 7^th, 2016³⁷37. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Resolução nº 510, de 7 de Abril de 2016 [Internet]. Brasília, DF: Conselho Nacional de Saúde; 2016 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://conselho.saude.gov.br/resolucoes/2016/Reso510.pdf
http://conselho.saude.gov.br/resolucoes/... were strictly observed during the research.

Procedures for organizing and analyzing data

Data analysis consisted of a description of the events and observed social and organizational phenomena. In this way, we classified the organization of data as typical of descriptive and exploratory studies³⁸38. Minayo MCS. O desafio do conhecimento: pesquisa qualitativa em saúde. 7a ed. São Paulo: Hucitec; 2000. .

The data were organized in such a way as to result in rules for coping with violence against women in Brazilian universities, particularly at USP.

Results

The document entitled “General Guidelines for institutional actions of intervention in situations of violence and discrimination of gender and sexual orientation” had its final version approved by the CAV-Mulheres USP-RP at a meeting on 06/29/2018 and is fully available on the commission’s website³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... . It is a 13 page document that contains an introduction, objectives, scope, subjects and situations, guiding principles and lastly deals with the competence of the commissions on gender and human rights in universities.

The introduction presents the legal foundations that guide the need to investigate cases of gender-based violence in the University. It introduces the concept of the right to live a life free of violence as one of the Human Rights of Women, according to the concept enshrined in International Conventions on Human Rights²2. Brasil. Presidência da República. Decreto nº 1.973, de 1º de Agosto de 1996. Promulga a Convenção Interamericana para Prevenir, Punir e Erradicar a Violência contra a Mulher, concluída em Belém do Pará, em 9 de Junho de 1994. Diário Oficial da União. 2 Ago 1996. , ³3. Organização das Nações Unidas. Declaração da ONU sobre a eliminação da violência contra a mulher. Artigo 1 da Resolução 484 da Assembleia Geral da ONU. Genebra: ONU; 1993. and adopted by the Maria da Penha Law¹⁶16. Brasil. Presidência da República. Lei n° 11.340, de 7 de Agosto de 2006. Lei Maria da Penha. Diário Oficial da União. 07 Ago 2006. . Definitions of gender violence are also presented, with the recommendation of adopting a gender perspective in prevention, investigation, punishment and reparation actions, in order to avoid stereotypes and prejudices in the approach to cases, reinforcing the responsibility of the University in effectively coping with violence.

The primary purpose³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... of the document is to provide the necessary tools to eliminate prejudices and stereotypes in the analysis, treatment and verification of cases to avoid discriminatory behavior or barriers in the access to a fair and effective formal procedure. In addition, it seeks to promote equity by promoting the construction of a university environment free of violence based on sex, gender, class, race, ethnicity, nationality or religion.

Regarding the “Scope of its application”, the document reaffirms that the “university environment” is not restricted to the physical dependencies of the campuses, but refers to any space where people linked to the University such as students, employees, and teachers meet⁴⁰40. Portaria GR nº 3154, de 27 de Abril de 1999. Dispõe sobre a proibição do trote na USP. São Paulo: Reitoria da Universidade de São Paulo; 1999. .

The “subjects and situations”³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... that may be targeted by the application of the guidelines are all individuals or groups that are university linked and involved in situations of gender-based violence and discrimination and other social markers.

The “guiding principles”³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... contain the assumptions to be observed in the approach to cases by the university. These principles involve the integral care of people in situations of violence; the duty to investigate, act and respond promptly to reported cases of human rights violations; respect for human dignity, privacy, protection and difference; the prevention of institutional re-victimization; the prevention of situations of violence and discrimination; the protection of victims and complainants; and the guarantee of information, assistance and reparation.

Finally, the item³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... “competence of the commissions on gender violence” defines the limits and possibilities of the action of these commissions. In the event of any infraction that may lead to the investigation and exercise of the punitive power of the university, this investigation will be carried out by a unionized commission, so that these commissions on gender violence can only participate in the verification of their work. The commissions can propose specific policies and actions on the subject, as well as receiving reports on violence and refer them to the competent bodies responsible for their investigation.

Discussion

The document and bibliographical analyzes allowed us to discover different institutional forms of coping with sexual violence and violence against women in the university. This analysis was done from documents that described experiences from the United States¹²12. Potter RH, Krider JE, McMahon PM. Examining elements of campus sexual violence policies. Violence Against Women. 2000; 6(12):1345-62. , ¹³13. Krebs C, Lindquist CH, Warner TD, Fisher BS, Martin SL. The campus sexual assault (CSA) study: final report. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice; 2007. , ¹⁵15. Fisher BS, Cullen FT, Turner MG. The sexual victimization of college women. Research Report. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice; 2000. , Spain¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. , ¹⁴14. Valls-Carol R. Violencia de género en las universidades españolas. Memoria Final. 2006-2008. Exp. 50/05. Ministerio de Igualdad. Madrid: Secretaria General de Políticas de Igualdad. Instituto de la mujer; 2009. , United Kingdom¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. , ¹⁴14. Valls-Carol R. Violencia de género en las universidades españolas. Memoria Final. 2006-2008. Exp. 50/05. Ministerio de Igualdad. Madrid: Secretaria General de Políticas de Igualdad. Instituto de la mujer; 2009. and from some Latin American universities¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. .

The documents analyzed showed differences in denomination of violence. The documents¹³13. Krebs C, Lindquist CH, Warner TD, Fisher BS, Martin SL. The campus sexual assault (CSA) study: final report. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice; 2007. from the North American universities analyze the confrontation of sexual violence, and studies¹²12. Potter RH, Krider JE, McMahon PM. Examining elements of campus sexual violence policies. Violence Against Women. 2000; 6(12):1345-62. , ¹⁵15. Fisher BS, Cullen FT, Turner MG. The sexual victimization of college women. Research Report. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice; 2000. show that the majority of victims of sexual violence are women. The Spanish studies¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. , ¹⁴14. Valls-Carol R. Violencia de género en las universidades españolas. Memoria Final. 2006-2008. Exp. 50/05. Ministerio de Igualdad. Madrid: Secretaria General de Políticas de Igualdad. Instituto de la mujer; 2009. and Latin American studies¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. use the terminology “gender violence” and focus on sexual harassment. These particularities are important since there are few studies and little knowledge about the subject in Brazil.

Despite the responsibility of the universities, our schools in general, and the one where we are studying in particular, have no experience in coping with such situations.

The document of Guidelines can provide parameters for effective coping with situations where there is the violation of women’s rights, involving fundamental attention to victims and proper investigation of the chaotic situation, as well as providing support for the implementation of a broader education and prevention policy for violence in the university environment.

One of the first countries to conduct systematic studies on violence against women at the university and to envisage specific mechanisms to address the problem was the United States. The existence of many initiatives in US universities is mainly due to the legal obligation⁴¹41. Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 1991. Washington, DC: House of Representatives nº 2363; 1991. of universities who receive federal funding to prepare and distribute manuals to the whole community, which outlines campus security policies and reports on crime statistics in the institution.

In the national scenario, there is no law that obliges the universities to adopt such a procedure, but we adopt as a parameter the National Policy to Combat Violence Against Women³³33. Brasil. Presidência da República. Política Nacional de Enfrentamento à Violência contra as Mulheres. Brasília, DF: Secretaria de Políticas para as Mulheres; 2011. which establishes effective policies to confront violence.

The U.S. law also required⁴¹41. Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 1991. Washington, DC: House of Representatives nº 2363; 1991. universities to develop and publish, as part of their annual safety report, their policies of awareness and prevention of sexual assault. This same law established principles for reporting and the procedures to be followed at the University for cases of sexual violence, prioritizing the will and the intimacy of the people involved, whether victims or complainants.

In 2002, research commissioned by the Department of Justice with national reach⁴²42. Karjane H, Fisher B, Cullen F. Campus sexual assault: how America’s institutions of higher education respond. Newton, MA: Educ Development Center; 2002. addressed 2,438 institutions of higher education in the United States and Puerto Rico, of which 41% responded to the survey. The authors identified that few universities had implemented the best practices described in the literature for coping with sexual violence against women, although 60% of the institutions had developed some kind of policy. The research sought to find parameters for universities to respond to sexual violence on their campuses effectively, taking into account the specificities of this type of phenomenon.

One of the problems identified by the study⁴²42. Karjane H, Fisher B, Cullen F. Campus sexual assault: how America’s institutions of higher education respond. Newton, MA: Educ Development Center; 2002. was the lack of formal definition by universities for sexual violence or rape. This lack of definition results in the difficulty that the victim has in recognizing the situation as violence, making it difficult to confront the university.

As good practice, the study⁴²42. Karjane H, Fisher B, Cullen F. Campus sexual assault: how America’s institutions of higher education respond. Newton, MA: Educ Development Center; 2002. identified the need for a separation of procedures for victims and offenders. In regard to victims, it is necessary to ensure diligent response, guarantee of immediate collection of evidence and health care in cases of sexual violence. All of this should be widely disseminated to students.

For the protection of victims, as good practice⁴²42. Karjane H, Fisher B, Cullen F. Campus sexual assault: how America’s institutions of higher education respond. Newton, MA: Educ Development Center; 2002. , most institutions have formal measures to immediately remove the alleged perpetrator from the community and apply appropriate measures.

In this sense, the guidelines³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... stipulate that the units of USP can apply administrative measures of protection to the people affected by the violence, thus avoiding that they suffer any academic damage.

The same study⁴²42. Karjane H, Fisher B, Cullen F. Campus sexual assault: how America’s institutions of higher education respond. Newton, MA: Educ Development Center; 2002. presents some recommendations for the elaboration of legislation and establishment of administrative procedures: the development of materials containing the enforced legislation on sexual violence in the university; the development of a policy model to address sexual violence; the development of educational actions, such as booklets and lectures; the creation of services for victims of sexual aggression, prioritizing their needs; the investigation of ethnic and cultural factors in the sexual violence on the campus and the implantation of policies that facilitate the procedures for the notifications and reports.

The guidelines³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... proposed by the CAV-Mulheres USP-RP constitute material that explains how procedures can be developed to address violence against women in the University. The presentation of the Guidelines and their adoption at the University of São Paulo can create an effective channel for notifications / reports of these situations, favoring the adherence to effective procedures.

In the United States, the Annual Climate Surveys⁴³43. Office On Violence Against Women. National progress on campus climate surveys: a snapshot [Internet]. Washington, DC: Department Of Justice; 2017 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/929841/download
https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/92... were also developed, examining sexual violence on campuses and the perception of the university community on how educational institutions face the issue. These perceptions are measured considering the type of actions promoted by the universities and the sense of security of the students.

In order to assess how colleges report and investigate sexual violence against women, the US Senate conducted a research based on the Climate Surveys. Addressing 440 HEIs and over three million students. The research showed how many institutions failed to respond to sexual violence and to adopt best practices⁴⁴44. Senate Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight – Majority Staff. Sexual violence on campus: How too many institutions of higher education are failing to protect students [Internet]. Washington, DC; 2014 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/SurveyReportwithAppendix.pdf.
http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/SurveyRe... despite existing legislation. The best practices were the integration of services external to the campuses as well as the provision of nursing care within them⁴⁴44. Senate Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight – Majority Staff. Sexual violence on campus: How too many institutions of higher education are failing to protect students [Internet]. Washington, DC; 2014 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/SurveyReportwithAppendix.pdf.
http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/SurveyRe... . Despite legislative changes at the federal level and some improvement in indicators between 2002 and 2014, the problem of violence against women in the university environment persists in US universities.

Research on the North American reality highlights the importance of mobilizing the university community for effective compliance with legislation, and for the adoption of provided measures and best practices in response to violence against women.

Since 2001, the UK government has focused its efforts on compliance with the university’s specific obligations in response to gender discrimination, with each HEI being responsible for its anti-discriminatory gender policy¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. . However, there is the fear that the procedures that are legally required by the University do not materialize in cases where the alleged aggressor is in a hierarchical position superior to the victim¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. . One of the functions of the Guidelines is to avoid the realization of this fear, taking care that the hierarchy does not prevail.

Another relevant practice identified in UK universities was the division of procedures between formal and informal. Both are guided by principles such as fairness, impartiality, confidentiality and finding an effective solution on an efficient time scale. The formal procedure entails more serious sanctions, involving disciplinary processes that function as judicial processes, while the informal procedure applies when there is not enough materiality¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. . The informal procedure uses techniques and concepts common to mediation and conciliation, among other tools that propose dialogue, with external mediation aimed at resolving the conflict. It is an understanding-oriented communication, and is not recommended when the victim is at risk. In order to initiate the formal procedure, in addition to the victim’s request, there must be informed consent and it only moves forward if there is evidence that the violence occurred¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. .

The proposed Guidelines do not yet consist of a formal procedure to be adopted by USP, but they are a guide to the measures to be taken in relation to the person attacked, in order to protect them, and can be compared to what are known as the informal procedures¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. .

In Spain public and private institutions are legally responsible for creating mechanisms to address inequalities between men and women⁴⁵45. Ley Orgánica 3/2007, de 22 de Marzo, para la Igualdad Efectiva de Mujeres y Hombres. Madrid: Gobierno de España; 2007. , and companies must take measures to prevent sexual harassment, accept and follow up on complaints, and develop good practices with educational and information campaigns. In the public administration, managers need to negotiate with workers a protocol for sexual harassment, aiming at equality between men and women, and point the way to deal with these denunciations, and the identification of the persons responsible in dealing with the complainant.

In Latin America, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has a policy of coping with violence against women, with sanctioning rules for cases of harassment or sexual harassment in the workplace, a situation that can also lead to dismissal of university employees¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. . With regard to students, in the absence of similar regulations, the HEI established a position against gender violence through the creation of reception and support services and research on gender violence at the university, among other measures¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. .

In the UNAM there is a nucleus of research on women’s rights, the University Program of Gender Studies (PUEG). The dimensions of the work of this group include the production of knowledge tools about the situation of the university community, differentiating between men and women. The program also conducts courses on gender for teachers¹¹11. Morteo MMCM. Prevención de la violencia de género en las universidades: Características de las buenas prácticas dialógicas [tese]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona; 2011. .

In its Institutional Development Plan 2015-2019, the UNAM defined principles to prevent violence against women in the university, such as the training of university surveillance workers in security issues, law, university legislation, gender violence and human rights, to help preserve the safety of university students and their spaces; the development of social service programs about gender equality and the elaboration of a protocol of attention and sanction for gender violence⁴⁶46. Plano de Desarrollo Institucional 2015-2019. Dr. Luis Enrique Graue Wiechers. Rector. Cidade do México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM); 2017 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.rector.unam.mx/doctos/PDI-2015-2019.pdf
http://www.rector.unam.mx/doctos/PDI-201... .

The protocol, the result of demands from student movements at the university, provides the procedures to be followed in case of violence against women. Procedures had previously been created with the existing university bodies, such as the university rights advocate and the general law firm. The purpose here was to create specific procedures in the face of gender violence⁴⁶46. Plano de Desarrollo Institucional 2015-2019. Dr. Luis Enrique Graue Wiechers. Rector. Cidade do México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM); 2017 [citado 1 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.rector.unam.mx/doctos/PDI-2015-2019.pdf
http://www.rector.unam.mx/doctos/PDI-201... .

This protocol is similar to what the Guidelines proposed by the CAV-Mulheres USP-RP seek, that is, to establish parameters of action with the existing organs, when there is a situation of violence against women in the university. In this way, USP shows itself to be in dialogue with the universities of the world to confront the issue.

Final considerations

Numerous situations made public in recent years point to the fact that violence against women is present in the daily lives of Brazilian universities.

The CPI report from the Paulista Universities and the visibility given to the events involving violence against women, especially at USP, promoted institutional initiatives that indicate a commitment to face the phenomenon.

However, because the evidence and emergence of the problem is recent, the Brazilian universities do not have experience in the adoption and execution of coping policies that allow for due diligence in the investigation of reported situations, in the reception and integral care of the victims, in the adoption of disciplinary administrative measures, and especially in the promotion of actions that sensitize, educate and prevent violence occurring in a university context.

Despite the measures adopted in the last three years, such as the creation of the USP Women’s Office, membership of the UN Women’s HeForShe Program, and the creation of special commissions in some units, it is necessary for the institution to develop efficient mechanisms to implement effective coping policies in the confrontation of violence.

In this sense, the document “General Guidelines for institutional actions of intervention in situations of violence and discrimination against gender and sexual orientation”³⁹39. Diretrizes gerais para as ações institucionais de intervenção diante de situações de violência ou discriminação de gênero ou orientação sexual. Comissão Para Apurar Denúncias de Violência Contra Mulheres e Gêneros [Internet]. Ribeirão Preto: Universidade de São Paulo, 2018 [citado 01 Dez 2018]. Disponível em: http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulheres/diretrizes-2018.pdf.
http://www.prefeiturarp.usp.br/cav-mulhe... by CAV-Mulheres USP-RP , can serve as a basis for the articulation of answers to this chaos, considering that the document is a result of extensive research work involving the experience of other countries that have already organized themselves to respond to the problem, the international treaties to which Brazil is a signatory, and the coexistence of two years with the reality of the CAV-Mulheres USP-RP and Women of the USP-RP communities.

References

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History