Is there a hidden agenda behind the protests at Mexico’s most prestigious university?

The internal conflicts inside Mexico’s most prestigious university , the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( UNAM ), have escalated in the last four months; moreover, some faculties and high schools are paralyzed. The reason behind the protests is the femicide of Lesvy Berlín Osorio , who was murdered inside the campus in May 2017 .

The case turned into a banner for the feminist movement in Mexico City as w o men demanded justice . Later, women added more demands such as the eradication of sexual harassment , often perpetrated by UNAM teachers , workers , and fellow students , as well as the improvement of the medical service at schools after a high school student died as a result of a deficient service at the school.

Recommended: Impunity: Sexual abuse and harassment plague Mexico City

In the past, the UNAM has been besieged by conflict for attacks against academic freedom , the increase in fees , the implementation of new fees , the demand to increase the spots available for students, an initiative the automatic acceptance into the university, and for proposals to update syllabuses . Many of these attempts have been labeled as attempts to privatize higher education .

This time, those who have partially paralyzed the university claim that their actions are meant to pressure UNAM authorities to demand the eradication of gender violence and sexual harassment inside the university. Nevertheless, the November 2019 protests were also aimed against the reelection of UNAM dean Enrique Graue ; during these protests, historical buildings were damaged.

Recommended: Male teachers, main sexual aggressors in Mexico City's universities

These conflicts show that anonymous , masked protesters have used the demand to halt violence against women at the Mexican university as an excuse to destabilize the university , which has always been perceived as valuable political spoils for its dimensions and importance; it is a strategic conquest for any party looking to destabilize the country.

While President Andrés Manuel López Obrador talks about the intervention of a “ dark force ” at the UNAM , the university dean claims these are attempts to destabilize the university and although both acknowledge that there are serious issue inside the UNAM and that the demands made by feminist groups are legitimate , they also see a hidden agenda behind the violent protests although it is not clear who is behind this. In the end, it is better to negotiate and discuss urgent matters than to ignore them.

Recommended: Mexican women are now coming forward to denounce academics

gm