Outrage Among INDH Employees Over Retention of Coquimbo Regional Director Despite Evidence of Misconduct

Original article: Molestia en funcionarios del INDH: Mantienen en su cargo a directora regional de Coquimbo pese a acreditarse malos tratos hacia usuarios y trabajadores

The National Association of Human Rights Defenders has expressed strong disapproval of the decision made by INDH director Yerko Ljubetic to keep Tarcila Piña in her position as the regional director for Coquimbo, despite an internal inquiry that confirmed claims of misconduct towards both users and staff.

Local media has extensively reported on the allegations against Piña, which include inappropriate comments regarding the sexual lives and physical appearances of female staff, as well as the use of derogatory terms such as «veneco,» «gordita licenciosa,» «cochimbanos,» «vieja loca,» and «guatona cochina.»

After nine months of investigation and review, the internal report concluded with five «unsubstantiated» charges. The only consequence for the regional director was a fine of approximately $54,000. This resolution was signed on August 14 by the national director of INDH, effectively reaffirming Piña’s position despite the controversies.

Daniela Aceituno Silva, president of the National Association of Human Rights Defenders, informed El Ciudadano that «we learned of this decision through information published in a regional newspaper and hope that once the process is definitively concluded, the Direction will reconsider its current decision.»

Aceituno emphasized that «the Karin Law strengthened the obligation to prevent and sanction harassment and workplace violence, categorizing them as behaviors that especially violate administrative integrity and sanctioning dismissal as a punishable response.»

In this context, she added, «it would send a profoundly misguided message to those of us working at INDH and to the citizens who rely on it that, once workplace violence perpetrated by a superior against the majority of their team is institutionally proven, the decision would be to retain them in their position.»

The union organization stated that this situation «undermines trust among staff, disincentivizes reporting, and could convey a message of impunity regarding workplace violence.»

«In a human rights institution, consistency between what is demanded of society and what is practiced internally is not optional: it is an institutional duty,» they emphasized.

We will continue to provide updates.