Summary.
The bill establishes the role of Protective Educator for educators who report abuse of students who are children or adolescents in the school setting. Its purpose is to protect the reporting teacher from threats to their physical safety and that of their family. The proposal places this protection within the national system for the protection of children and adolescents and connects it to the safety of the child affected by the reported abuse.
After a report is filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público) and the child protection institutions named in the bill, Senniaf and the Children and Adolescents Court (Juzgado de Niñez y Adolescencia), those institutions would undertake the relevant procedures to secure the safety of both the child and the educator who made the report. The teacher would also receive support from the school community under the direction of the school principal. Where circumstances warrant, the National Police (Policía Nacional) would provide protection to the reporting teacher. The proposed procedure thus combines action by the institutions involved in the report, support within the school, and police protection according to the circumstances.
If a family member or someone close to the reported person’s family threatens or harasses the educator, the educator would file the corresponding complaints with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. This provision seeks to protect the teacher’s physical and psychological integrity and provide for a protection order in the teacher’s favor. At schools in hard-to-reach areas that lack a formally structured school community, the educator in charge of the school would coordinate with police and local authorities, including the House of Peace (Casa de Paz), to secure the protection and safety of the teacher who filed the report.
The bill also provides for annual nationwide training and awareness campaigns concerning verbal, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of children and adolescents. It requires every educational center in the country to display posters aimed at preventing physical, psychological, and sexual violence against them. The posters would be placed at the entrance to each school and inside every classroom, dining area, and library. They would encourage children and adolescents to report abuse and approach their educators, and would include telephone numbers and email addresses for that purpose. The proposed law would take effect on the day following its promulgation.
The public bodies connected with the proposal are the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Senniaf, the Children and Adolescents Court, the National Police, the House of Peace, and local authorities. Its provisions could also concern educational centers, principals, educators, and school communities, as well as students who are children or adolescents and their families.
What it proposes.
- Protection of educators who report abuse of students who are minors.
- Institutional action and support within schools following a report.
- Training and violence prevention in educational centers.
Who it would affect.
- Reporting educators and educators in charge of schools.
- Principals and school communities.
- Educational centers throughout the country.
- Children and adolescents in school settings.
Key points.
- Creates the role of Protective Educator for reports of abuse of children and adolescents in school settings.Art. 1
- Proposes protection for reporting educators against threats to their physical safety and that of their families.Art. 2
- Following a report, child protection institutions would act to secure the student’s and teacher’s safety; the school community would support the teacher, and the National Police would provide protection where warranted.Art. 3
- In response to threats or harassment from the reported person’s family circle, the educator would file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office to seek physical and psychological protection and a protection order.Art. 4
- At hard-to-reach schools without a formally structured school community, the educator in charge would coordinate protection for the reporting teacher with police and local authorities.Art. 5
- Provides for annual nationwide training and awareness campaigns on verbal, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of minors.Art. 6
- Requires prevention posters at school entrances and in classrooms, dining areas, and libraries, encouraging reports and providing contact details.Art. 7