On June 9, 2023, students from the Faculty of Arts and Design took to the streets near the main campus of  National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to demand greater security on campus and a stronger response by the UAM administration to reports of sexual harassment.

The protest, initially peaceful, took place after UNAM failed to address a case of sexual abuse reported by a woman studying in the Faculty of Arts and Design. As the protest neared its end, a group of hooded individuals joined. They set off firecrackers, threw Molotov cocktails near the rectory, defaced the Central Library with paint, and started fires near the rectory’s entrance, causing burns to some students.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violence occurring in the course of a protest, including the destruction of campus property and infrastructure. Such acts erode the right to education, and diminish everyone’s access to a safe, free and open university space. State and campus authorities should take all reasonable measures to prevent and respond to such incidents, including ensuring campus security and conducting prompt and thorough investigations, as appropriate.

Sources:
CAFA Report (Informe de casos y tendencias sobre libertad académica y autonomía universitaria en las Américas Noviembre 1 de 2022 – Junio 30 de 2023 )
https://www.jornada.com.mx/2023/06/10/politica/011n1pol
https://lasillarota.com/metropoli/2023/6/9/vandalismo-pinta-paramilitar-en-la-unam-tras-marcha-en-cu-432620.html
https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/nacional/2023/6/9/videos-vandalismo-en-la-unam-asi-fue-como-quemaron-pintaron-rectoria-la-biblioteca-central-512841.html