In a letter addressed to the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas, with a copy to President Gabriel Boric, authorities and legislators, a group of professionals from the area of Human Environment Assessment, Citizen Participation and Indigenous Consultation (MHPAC) of the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) expressed a series of concerns about the work environment and management practices at said institution.
In the letter, the officials begin by celebrating the signing of the Escazú Agreement as an important step towards greater citizen participation and access to environmental justice. However, they regret that the initial enthusiasm has been dampened by “a series of practices by the current administration that have severely harmed communication and collaborative work within the SEA.”
One of the main concerns raised in the letter is the complaint of harassment and workplace mistreatment by the head of the Environmental Assessment and Citizen Participation Division (DEVAPAC) of the SEA, Juan Cristóbal Moscoso Farías—who has been in the organization since November 2014. —.
Formal complaints are mentioned both within the institution and before the Chilean Security Association (ACHS), related to medical licenses for mental health problems derived from the conduct they question by Moscoso, about whom an administrative summary has been opened.
The letter also points out the lack of action by the executive director of the SEA, Valentina Durán Medina, who was appointed by President Boric, to address these concerns, which—they say—has led to a deep labor crisis in the institution.
It was the National Association of Officials of the Environmental Evaluation Service (ANFUSEA) that addressed Durán, expressing deep concern about the lack of adequate response to the complaints filed against Moscoso.
A call is made to Minister Rojas to intervene and adopt corrective measures to guarantee a work environment free of violence and harassment. They even call for the dismissal of those responsible for these practices.
The professionals, specialized in citizen participation and indigenous consultation, conclude by highlighting their commitment to the principles of the Escazú Agreement, but emphasizing that these cannot be achieved at the expense of the well-being and dignity of SEA workers.
Prior to his position at DEVAPAC, Juan Cristóbal Moscoso served as executive director(s) of the Environmental Assessment Service between 2017 and 2018; as head of the Legal Division between 2014 and 2017, and as head of the Legal Unit of the SEA of the Metropolitan Region between 2010 and 2014. He is married to the minister of the Constitutional Court, Catalina Lagos Tschorne, daughter of the former socialist minister of Housing and Urban Planning of the government of Ricardo Lagos, Sonia Tschorne, who in turn has been a member of the board of directors of the Valparaíso Port Company (EPV), the Concessions Council of the Ministry of Public Works and alternate director of Aguas Andinas.
The letter is addressed to:
- Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic.
- Maximiliano Proaño, Undersecretary of the Environment.
- Felipe Melo Rivara, National Director of the Civil Service and President of the Council of Senior Public Management.
- Ricardo Lagos Weber, President of the Senate Environment Commission.
- Félix González Gatica, President of the Environment Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.
- Javier Medina Vásquez, Deputy Executive Secretary ECLAC
- Bárbara Iturriaga Zamora, President of ANFUSEA.
- Álvaro González Vásquez, President of FENATRAMA.
- Jose Perez Debelli, President of ANEF.
From the SEA they indicated that, “indeed, a complaint was received from officials of a division at the central level, which is being channeled through the internal procedure provided for in Resolution No. 803 of 2019, governed by the principles of confidentiality. , impartiality, administrative honesty, speed, responsibility and gender equality.”
“The case is being addressed internally, in such a way as not to affect the dignity and rights of the complainants, by eventually re-victimizing them, nor of the accused and other people involved, as well as not to undermine their right to due process and the presumption of innocence.” , they add from the government service.
“The commitment and obligation of the service management is to take care of all officials, promoting an organizational culture of full respect for the dignity and good treatment of people, and to strictly comply with the procedures that regulate us to address such serious and delicate like this,” they concluded.