Omertá (174): The instrumentalization of people in contexts of university gender violence

In the university environment, where ethics, solidarity and commitment to human rights are expected to predominate, the instrumentalization of people for perverse purposes constitutes one of the most subtle and cruel forms of violence. In particular, in contexts marked by gender-based violence, this instrumentalization becomes a common tool for those who seek to sustain the status quo of impunity. There are people who approach others feigning interest, empathy or even friendship, not to support them, but to obtain information that will later be used to harm, discredit or isolate those who defend the victims or promote real changes.

This strategy responds to a pattern of isolating gender violence, which not only seeks to silence the victims, but also to punish those who dare to accompany them. People who act in this way use the emotional manipulation and trust they generate to collect data, distort it or use it as weapons in smear campaigns. In so doing, the solidarity networks that are essential for victim protection and institutional transformation are threatened.

When faced with that, it is essential to recognize these dynamics and protect safe spaces in which victims and their allies can share, build and heal without fear. The university must reinforce its commitment to a coexistence based on respect, transparency and non-violence, eradicating practices that turn people into means to spurious ends. There can be no neutrality in the face of these forms of violence: to remain silent or to look the other way is to perpetuate the damage. Only from a firm position of denunciation, reparation and prevention can progress be made towards truly safe and fair university environments.