The academic group CREA, founded by professor Ramón Flecha, has decided to end its activities after the University of Barcelona referred the case to the prosecutor's office. The institution found indications of a 'high-control coercive group' based on testimonies from complainants. Additionally, the UB suspended three more faculty members linked to the network.
The University of Barcelona (UB) has taken significant measures in the case of professor Ramón Flecha and his academic group CREA. After gathering testimonies from 11 complainants, initially revealed by elDiario.es along with RTVE, Ràdio 4, and Infolibre, the university opened an internal file. These accusations include requests for massages, sex, or domestic tasks from subordinate female academics.
On Monday, the UB temporarily suspended Flecha from his duties and extended the measure to two other faculty members from CREA's leadership, while also withdrawing honors from another linked professor. The preliminary report from the investigation committee points to behaviors such as sexual and psychological coercion, maltreatment, personal and professional exploitation, as well as humiliations and intimidations. Five more complainants have joined, bringing the total to 16.
CREA, founded in the 1990s focused on educational research and later on gender violence, issued a statement announcing its immediate dissolution. 'With the primary objective of avoiding further professional harm to our members and protecting their personal integrity, we communicate the decision to end the CREA network effective immediately,' the text states. The group attributes the complaints to a harassment campaign, though the UB has referred the case to the prosecutor's office.
Although based at the UB, CREA has not been an official university research group since 2015 and has members across various Spanish faculties.
