The Supreme Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) stands as Spain’s leading public research institution, uniting 121 centers across the country and employing over 13,000 people. Beyond its equity framework, a comprehensive protocol addresses sexual harassment and the necessary intervention when complaints arise. In a notable case, María del Carmen Fernández VázquezCanguesa, 43, a resident of Bueu, filed a formal complaint against a colleague. The situation involved an oceanographer who also worked on a CSIC vessel, García del Cid. The complainant returned to work on September 4 and was required to share the same workspace with the individual she had accused. That vessel was about twenty miles off the coast of Gandía in the Valencian Community when the man reportedly went missing the following Sunday.
The intervention protocol allows for the Commission for Combating Sexual Harassment at CSIC to propose, with justification, any precautionary measures needed to prevent potential movement of affected persons or further harm. Institution sources did not clarify the response from FARO DE VIGO, the Iberian Press group, if they would respect Carmen Fernández’s request not to place the individual aboard the same vessel. The ship García del Cid is just under 37 meters in length. A CSIC spokesman noted yesterday that the organization’s silence followed instructions from the Civil Guard tasked with the investigation.
The institution defends its silence by citing armed forces guidance
Within the same protocol, it is stated that intervention will be applied and special compensation provided to prevent ongoing harassment and to establish protective measures, considering the possible physical and psychological consequences for the complainant. Attention is to be given to the complainant’s work or academic conditions. The missing woman, a mother of three, had taken an extended medical leave as a result of the reported harassment. García del Cid had been asked to return to service since 2018, with the last assignment ending in July.
Underlying Reasons
The Civil Guard has proposed three possibilities for the disappearances: voluntary abandonment at night, an act of provocation, or homicide. A personal notebook found in Carmen Fernández’s cabin has been described by sources as a diary that may reveal the anxiety she felt from sharing space with the person she reported. Reports indicate that her career at the institution has been marked by ongoing challenges while her situation remained unresolved.
Protocol and Application
transfers
The Commission against sexual harassment, after interviewing involved parties, may suggest, with justification, potential reassignment or other precautionary actions deemed necessary to avert further harm. Such decisions aim to safeguard the wellbeing of those affected and protect their rights within the workplace or academic environment.
Protection
The complainant receives protection regarding work or academic health and safety. Interventions are implemented to halt the progression of alleged harassment and to establish appropriate protective measures, paying careful attention to physical and psychological outcomes and to the complainant’s professional or academic status.
APPLICATION
This Protocol applies to all CSIC personnel, irrespective of where services are provided and regardless of the legal nature of their link to CSIC. It covers civil servants, temporary staff, interns, foreign service personnel, and others, spanning all forms of employment duration.