Rector Caroline Pauwels replies to open letter VUB students
On July 22, VUB students of the association Spectrum GSA wrote an open letter to rector Caroline Pauwels. They express their concern about the violation of human rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Poland and ask the VUB "to publicly stand by the Polish LGBTQ+ community, to call out and condemn these ongoing violations of human rights and dignity and to use its international platform to pressure and convince Polish universities to better protect their LGBTQ+ students." Below you can read the rector's answer.
Open letter from Spectrum to Caroline Pauwels
Dear professor Pauwels
You are probably already aware of the recent presidential elections in Poland. The re-election of president Duda was built on a campaign of bigotry and hatred towards the LGBTQ+ community, and in likelihood he will continue to cooperate with the ruling PiS party to make life for Polish LGBTQ+ people a living hell. Over the years we have seen the rights of our Polish siblings restricted and we have seen an explosion of government-sanctioned bigotry, discrimination and violence. We at Spectrum GSA cannot stand idly by while a part of our European Union tries to label us subhuman both culturally and legally.
We know the VUB has a long and proud tradition of standing by the liberal and humanitarian values upon which it was founded. We are therefore confident in trusting that our university does not support the ongoing developments in Poland, and that it rejects hate and bigotry of any kind. Still, in the current age mere silent condemnation is no longer enough and we must make that call to action to both ourselves and others, to stand up for these higher values we all hold dear. We believe the VUB has the moral duty to undertake action. We implore the university to join us and to publicly stand by the Polish LGBTQ+ community, to call out and condemn these ongoing violations of human rights and dignity and to use its international platform to pressure and convince Polish universities to better protect their LGBTQ+ students. We thank you for taking the time to read this and hope to find the VUB once more standing as an ally in the battle for Human Rights.
Yours Sincerely
The Spectrum VUB GSA organizing team
Answer from Caroline Pauwels to Spectrum
Dear Spectrum VUB GSA organizing team,
I received your letter and have read it with great interest. Thank you for raising this issue.
I share your concern about the developments in Poland and would like to express my support and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. I’m also concerned that Poland has started the process of withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention against violence against women.
The VUB wants its university campuses to be a place where everyone feels at home and feels respected. A place where any kind of violence or deprivation based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression is tackled.
Every year at the Belgian Pride, VUB and ULB make a statement against homophobia and transphobia, in the name of 'Open minded Universities'. As such we want to inspire universities worldwide to be open, tolerant and inclusive. This is important because diversity is not the problem, but the remedy against rigidity, hatred and stagnation. In Brussels, Flanders and Belgium. But also in Poland and other parts of the world.
I would like to invite you to discuss possible further action.
Caroline Pauwels
Rector VUB
Equality at VUB
The VUB promotes diversity and rejects inequality. With its humanist values as a compass, it recognises, appreciates and facilitates diversity. The VUB strives for the equality of every student and employee. An equality that it understands as equality that does not erase differences. At our university there is room for the uniqueness of each individual and each group.
Picture: Shutterstock / Mazur Travel