Regarding the undergraduate theses "Pedophiles and infants, folds and refolds of desire" and "The hidden desire of the pedagogue: to be a pedophile", from the University of Chile

Just like CLACSO Working Group on Critical Studies in DisabilityWe wish to express our rejection of the relativization of pedophilia in the two academic publications from the University of Chile mentioned in the title of this statement. As researchers from Latin America, we believe that the university cannot be conceived as a space for training and acquiring research skills without considering the effects these studies may have, whether theoretical or experimental, and the ethical frameworks within which they are developed. We believe that the university is an institution at the service of the country and its social transformations, and that the knowledge generated within it cannot overstep the boundaries that ensure the unrestricted respect for human rights and the dignity of all people.

As researchers of issues related to the oppression of people with disabilities, we stand in solidarity with children and adolescents as a group that is also vulnerable. Furthermore, we are aware that, globally, children and adolescents with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, including that perpetrated by pedophiles. The generation of knowledge, especially that emanating from public universities, must be especially sensitive to this complex reality, ensuring that research does not expose this population to further violence by downplaying pedophilia, and prioritizing research aimed at preventing, accessing justice for, and providing redress for victims.

We believe that the emancipatory social processes the country has experienced in recent years have made us more aware of and able to denounce the advance of these practices, which have unfortunately permeated professional training and science. However, we also see that individuals and organizations have taken advantage of this situation to promote a far-right agenda against gender studies and sexual diversity. We consider this political and social exploitation shameful. Furthermore, we urge the public and the media to refrain from using terms like "crazy," "sick," and similar expressions to describe the authors of these publications, as these terms reflect deeply negative prejudices toward medical conditions or disabilities that are completely unrelated to the content of these theses.

Finally, we call upon universities, research centers, and academics to recognize that research of this kind jeopardizes all the efforts made at the Latin American level to reach a consensus that children and adolescents are a priority population in the fight against violence.

January 9, 2023
CLACSO Working Group
Critical studies in disability

This statement expresses the position of CLACSO Working Group on Critical Studies in Disability and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.