The Gender Equality Unit was created in 2010 in accordance with the development of gender equality legislation in Spain. The cross-cutting application of these policies has led to their inclusion not only in specific equality laws, such as Organic Law 3/2007 of March 22, for the effective equality of women and men, and Canary Islands Law 1/2010 of February 26, on equality between women and men (both of which include provisions applicable to higher education and the public sector, among others), but also in other laws of particular interest to public universities, such as Organic Law 4/2007 of April 12, which amends Organic Law 6/2001 on Universities, and Law 7/2007 of April 12, on the Basic Statute of Public Employees.
The Gender Equality Unit of the University of La Laguna has its own functions, although all groups, bodies and organizational units of the university are involved in a cross-cutting manner by the principle of equality between women and men in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework.
As general actions, the following are proposed: awareness-raising measures to promote gender equality in the university community, coordination of policies and actions, and evaluation, monitoring and assessment of compliance with legislation, plans and measures to achieve effective gender equality.
Among other things, more specific actions are taken to correct gender inequalities, with special attention to victims of gender violence, sexual and/or sexist harassment, and actions are proposed to reconcile personal, family, work and academic life.
Finally, noteworthy are the actions that facilitate training, research, transfer and management with a gender perspective; as well as advice on gender equality to individuals, groups, organizational units and bodies of the university community.
Currently, the UIG has two female professors appointed as director and deputy director within the framework of the university management support plan.
Director: Carmen Marina Barreto Vargas igualdad@ull.es
Deputy DirectorRosa María Henríquez Rodríguez sbiguald@ull.es
The University of La Laguna, through its Gender Equality Unit, has had since April 2022 the Office for Prevention and Response to Sexual and Sexist Harassment with technical staff specialized in gender equality matters. opraservicio@ull.es
GENDER EQUALITY POLICY REPRESENTATIVES AND EQUALITY COMMISSIONS
Each organizational unit of the University of La Laguna (that is, each Faculty, School and Department) must have a person who acts as a Representative in gender equality policies in said organizational unit.
Equality Committees have been established as working groups to facilitate and promote actions for equality. They may be composed of representatives of equality policies and/or members of the teaching and research staff, administrative and service staff, or students.
The Equality Unit (UIG) collaborates with the Equality Units of other Spanish universities. Its director is also a member of the CRUE's sectoral group on equality policies and of the Canary Islands Equality Council, chaired by the Director of the Canary Islands Equality Institute. The unit is also a key entity in the Tenerife Violeta Strategic Plan of the Tenerife Island Council.