Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents seal that establishes consulates as a space free of discrimination

The Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente, led the presentation of the “Consulate a Place of Respect” seal and signed a joint agreement with the Undersecretary General of Government and the Observatory of Citizen Participation and Non-Discrimination, to ensure that the attention offered by Chilean consulates is free of all bias and discrimination, as well as to promote the development of friendlier work spaces.

Although the initiative focuses on discrimination against the LGBTIQA+ community, it is not limited to them, but considers the full range of categories addressing, for example, gender identities and stereotypes, disability, among other reasons for discrimination that the legislation protects, giving space for more inclusion.

"There is a clear and firm commitment of the State of Chile and its institutions to guarantee the full respect and enjoyment of human, civil, political and social rights of diversities”, said Undersecretary de la Fuente and added that ‘for this commitment to be always true and real, public policies must be developed to support it and achieve its fulfillment".

The signature of the agreement will encourage training for Foreign Affairs Ministry officials in gender and discrimination issues, as well as in matters of citizen participation.

This initiative is in line with the commitments assumed in the area of human rights and will allow to advance towards a more prepared consular attention to the needs of nationals abroad, for example, in the procedures related to the change of sex and registry name of trans persons.

The event was attended by the Undersecretary General of Government, Nicole Cardoch; the Director General of Consular Affairs, Immigration and Chileans Abroad, Ambassador Marta Bonet, and the Director of the Observatory of Citizen Participation and Non-Discrimination, Carmen Luz Morales, who together with Undersecretary de la Fuente, held an online conversation with representatives of the Chilean consular network in various places, to reflect on the challenges involved in providing care to Chilean nationals abroad.