Today at 11:59 p.m. is the deadline to present and sign Popular Initiatives of Standard before the Constitutional Convention (CC), which, if they gather 15 thousand signatures, will be discussed by the commissions of the constituent body. Until the closing of this note, there were 2,496 proposals presented, of which 63 already exceed 15 thousand sponsorships. Among the most outstanding Popular Initiatives are those for the protection of children, such as the one presented by Compromiso por la Niñez –which brings together a series of groups and NGOs–, called “Rights of children and adolescents, recognized and enshrined in the new Political Constitution of the Republic”; the one presented by the United Dissidences Recomposing Sex-Political Alliances (HARD), on the “Recognition of communities and various forms of family”; Y “Right to privacy, protection of personal data and cybersecurity”admitted by the Center for Studies in Computer Law, University of Chile
There are various matters that citizens wanted to put on the table, among them, freedom of worship and education. Ordinary citizens participated in several, but others were promoted by well-known organizations or people from the public or political sphere, ranging from the mayor of Recoleta, Daniel Jadue, to “Saca la Voz”, a group supported by the Confederation of Production and Trade (CPC).
The proposals
The proposal that leads the list is “Not with my money”with more than 53,000 signatures, and which seeks “that the ownership of current and future funds be guaranteed and that they be inheritable; that the freedom to choose between public and/or private institutions be consecrated; that the State ensure that men and women receive the same pension for the same amount saved; and that the State guarantees a universal basic pension financed through general taxes”.
It was presented by Constanza Burnier, a member of the “With my silver NO” movement, where one of the spokespersons is Francisco Javier Orrego, former candidate for deputy and former candidate for constituent of RN, close to the helmsman of that party, Francisco Chahuán, and who was for the option of Rejection in the entry plebiscite. But it is one of several initiatives that also supports “Saca la Voz”, a platform in which the CPC participates. Therefore, it is supported by the president of the businessmen, Juan Sutil. A similar initiative is “It’s my money and period”, which exceeded 15 thousand signatures and was presented by Cristian Vivian T.
“Saca la Voz” has on its list of promoted initiatives that of the “Autonomous Central Bank” (more than 31,000 signatures), presented by the group of the same name, which is advised by Michelle Bachelet’s former Minister of Finance, Rodrigo Valdés, and also by the former president of the Central Bank, Vittorio Corbo, among others. Adds that of “A bicameral legislative power in Chile” Y “For sustainable mining for Chile: committed to its inhabitants, its territories, the environment and the challenges of climate change”presented by “Mining Commitment”, a network of companies and organizations that includes Anglo American, Antofagasta Mineral, Codelco and Sonami, among others.
Parallel to the latter, the Confederation of Copper Workers (CTC) presented the rule for “Renationalization of copper and strategic public goods”, which just yesterday managed to gather the necessary 15,000 signatures. Also one with more than 22,000 endorsements, entitled “Nationalization of Large Copper, Lithium and Gold Mining Companies”, presented by the Committee for the Defense and Recovery of Copper.
Another initiative is one presented by the mayor of Recoleta, Daniel Jadue (PC), on “Constitutional Recognition of Domestic and Care Work” (more than 16 thousand signatures). More than 24 thousand signatures, meanwhile, also brings together the initiative “Victims First”presented by the organization of the same name and represented at the entrance by Carlos Siri, owner of the former German Fountain, who seeks to establish the right to citizen security and for the State to take charge of compensating crime victims.
There are at least 4 popular initiatives on animals, which have obvious nuances. One is “#NoSonFurniture – Incorporation of Animals in the Constitution”, from Vegetarianos Hoy, which states that “the recognition of Non-Human Animals (ANH) as ‘sentient beings’ based on the interest of citizens through a constitutional principle of protection would entail due protection of the interests and needs of the ANH by the State”, very similar to what is proposed by “Subjects, Not Objects” of the Alliance for Animal Rights, which relieves the exclusion of speciesism. With nuances there is also “Animals in the Constitution”, from Viva el Campo, Chile y su Cultura, which seeks to recognize animals as sentient beings, but “without falling into maximalisms that are contrary to logic or common sense.” The last one is “Protection of animals. Recognition of sentience and respect for rural cultures, Afro-descendant tribes and original peoples”, by Soy del Campo, which focuses on domestic animals, including the concept of “owner” by the human being, and “favor rural cultural manifestations and activities, both of native peoples, tribal Afro-descendants, transversal to the national territory, whether religious or Creole”.
Health and Education
“Right to life” (more than 27 thousand signatures), is a pro-life initiative that seeks to protect life from the moment of conception and to recognize that “the unborn is a human person.” It was presented by the group Siempre por la Vida.
On the sidewalk across the street, one of the first to achieve 15,000 support is the initiative “It will be law”with more than 33,000 signatures, presented by the Permanent Assembly for the Legalization of Abortion, and which seeks to establish that “the State recognizes and guarantees all people their sexual and reproductive rights, under conditions of equality and without discrimination, including right to abortion without interference from third parties, institutions or agents of the State”.
With many supports, the initiative is also positioned “Cannabis to the Constitution Now: For the right to free development of personality, personal sovereignty and well-being” (more than 41 thousand signatures), entered by Ana María Gazmuri in the name of “Cannabis Activism Chile”.
With more than 15 thousand endorsements, the initiative also counts “Fenpruss and the Right to Health”, presented by the National Confederation of University Health Services Professionals, Fenpruss, whose objective is “the need to ensure that the health model respects the principles of social security, including universality, solidarity, non-discrimination and progressive strengthening of social protection”. With more than 22 thousand sponsorships, there is the initiative of “The Right to Social Security”, presented by Luis Mesina, from the National Coordinator of Workers NO+AFP. Also, “Free and Quality Mental Health as a right”, presented by Cristian Jara Lizama, better known as Hardcorito (former member of a youth program who is now an activist for mental health). In addition, the initiative “The right of every autistic person to receive therapies. The State must guarantee their continuous access in the public and private sectors”of the TEAMoMas Foundation.
In Higher Education, the Consortium of Universities of the State of Chile, represented by the rector Ennio Vivaldi, has two popular initiatives ready: “Right to education: public, free, secular and quality” (with more than 17 thousand signatures) and “Form of State, Ordering, Autonomy, Decentralization, Equity, Territorial Justice, Local Governments and Fiscal Organization” (also with more than 15 thousand signatures). On the other hand, the Council of Professional Institutes and Accredited Technical Training Centers –Vertebral– presented a “Constitutional Recognition of Professional Technical Higher Education”, which also gathers more than 15 thousand signatures.
The most controversial and striking initiatives that achieved the goal
With more than 19,000 signatures, it joins the Popular Initiatives of Standards that are guaranteed discussion of “For Armed and Order Forces that are the pride of all Chileans and guarantee democracy, national security and the defense of the homeland”, presented by the lawyer Salvador Valdés, from the NGO “Nos Importan”. It proposes that aspects that are currently in the current Constitution be maintained, such as non-deliberative spaces, and as a principle “to promote respect, appreciation and institutionality of our Armed Forces and Law Enforcement, as a fundamental pillar of democracy, the rule of law , national security and homeland defense”.
Below, with more than 18 thousand supports, is the initiative “Prison for Sebastián Piñera”, which seeks to include “the guarantee of justice and non-repetition, that never again will a president abuse his power and declare war on his own people mutilating, torturing and murdering them.” It was presented by Mauricio Menéndez, a documentary filmmaker who was one of the founders of the People’s List.
An issue that has generated various political positions is the freedom of the prisoners of the revolt, which was reflected in a proposal with more than 16 thousand signatures, entitled “Popular Initiative of Norma for the Freedom of the political prisoners of the rebellion”. What he seeks is “that amnesty be granted to all those who, as perpetrators, accomplices or accessories, in any of the stages of development of the crime, have incurred or are charged with criminal acts or who have the characteristics of a criminal act” in the context of the social explosion. It was presented by Daniel Vargas Downing, a former constituent candidate for the Revolutionary Workers Party, with the support of relatives of the detainees.
Exceeding 15 thousand signatures, it is among the 60 popular initiatives that will be reviewed by the CC on “The right to be a Club and be a Fan”, which states that “the Constitution recognizes sport as a fundamental right. It ensures all people: The right to practice sport, to participate in its collective and individual organization, and to express and celebrate identity around sports practice , as an inalienable cultural heritage of their communities.Since sport is a fundamental activity of life and culture, it is the duty of the State to guarantee the right to practice, organize, celebrate and sport identity, as a collective right of the peoples and of each one”. It was presented by Andy Zepeda, on behalf of the fan organizations of the U.
Check here all the Popular Initiatives of Norm.
