Today, June 19, 2026, Administrative Court No. 7 of Barcelona has overturned the provisional suspension of duties ordered by the Rector of the University of Barcelona (UB) on December 22, 2025. The ruling concludes that the UB violated the fundamental right to due process by imposing the suspension without first granting the professor a hearing and without adequately justifying the urgency that would have allowed for the adoption of such a serious measure without hearing from the person affected.
As a result, the court has declared the precautionary suspension of the professor’s duties null and void and has ordered the UB to pay the court costs, up to a limit of 1,200 euros. The ruling may be appealed before the High Court of Justice of Catalonia.
All of us feminists rejoice when any institution, group, or individual supports those who stand with victims, overcoming the dominant dynamic in this sexist society of using isolating gender violence against them. This joy is even greater when the recipient of that support is a lifelong feminist who has distinguished herself by consistently supporting all victims and by participating in and co-leading the transformations that are making society and our universities increasingly less sexist.
Marta Soler-Gallart, doctor by Harvard, was the first Spaniard to serve as President of the European Sociological Association and is widely recognized in the global academic community. She has also distinguished herself by developing the first protocol against sexual harassment at Spanish universities, by leading the research center where Professor Rosa Valls conducted the first study on gender violence at Spanish universities, and by consistently supporting all victims of harassment of any kind.
Dr. Soler explains: “The publication and dissemination of that precautionary measure by the UB has had serious professional, personal, and reputational consequences, including my removal as director of an R&D research project, pressure to resign as Vice President of the International Sociological Association, and the withdrawal of invitations to deliver plenary lectures at international organizations, in addition to the consequences for my health and my family.”
She wishes to make it clear that the actions of the UB cannot be attributed to all members of the university community or to members of the Rector’s office, but exclusively to the Rector and the minority of faculty members who perpetrate isolating gender violence against those who support the victims.
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