Investigation Closed by Presidential Resolution
The President of the Republic, Yamandú Orsi, has officially signed a resolution dated July 9, marking the closure of an administrative investigation that was initiated following allegations made by four female and one male employee against Alejandra Casablanca, the Director of the Secretariat of Human Rights for Recent History. These allegations included claims of harassment and workplace violence. Following the allegations, the five complainants were subsequently reassigned to different departments within the Presidency.
This accusation first came to light in November 2025, approximately seven months ago, and a resolution regarding the case was recently reached amid a government-led restructuring aimed at unifying the two human rights secretariats, as initially reported by El Observador.
According to the resolution obtained by El País, it was concluded that "the evidence from the administrative investigation does not reveal sufficient proof to substantiate the existence of irregular or unlawful acts" related to the enforcement of the Protocol for the Prevention and Attention of Violence in the Workplace. Furthermore, the President deemed it necessary to heed the recommendations made by the Working Group in their report dated December 15, 2025. This report highlighted a hostile work environment characterized by a normalization of violent behaviors carried over from prior management and emphasized the necessity of renewing the team due to the inability to mend interpersonal relationships.
Administrative Actions and Future Structure
The resolution also indicated that the complainants were subject to investigation following a response from Casablanca, who alleged irregularities and potential document forgery. However, these actions were also archived. The administrative investigation commenced in April of this year.
In another resolution, signed by the entire cabinet on the same date, it was noted that “the dispersion and overlap of the mandates of the current Secretariat of Human Rights for Recent History necessitate its reorganization within a unified and structured entity within the Presidency of the Republic.” Consequently, it was resolved to integrate this secretariat with the main Secretariat of Human Rights to ensure continuity in the support and digitalization tasks of information not yet transferred to the National Institute of Human Rights and Ombudsman (Inddhh).
Although not yet officially appointed, Iliana Da Silva, the current Deputy Director of Institutional Communication for the Presidency, is expected to lead the Secretariat of Human Rights following the departure of Collette Spinetti. This department will also include new responsibilities.
To facilitate the unification and coordination of activities currently being conducted by the Secretariat of Human Rights for Recent History, the government has decided to create a new position titled "reference coordinator," which will be appointed by the President. Reports from El Observador suggest that Casablanca will be the individual designated for this role.
In response to these changes, the Family Members of Mothers and Relatives of Missing Detainees issued a statement expressing that “the historical obligations of the Uruguayan state cannot be resolved through organizational changes nor eliminated by decree.” They raised concerns regarding the political implications of such reorganizations, emphasizing that while the Executive Power has the authority to determine its organizational structure, it is alarming to learn of such significant modifications to the institution's framework through media reports. They further expressed deep concerns about the potential loss of specificity, autonomy, and capability to advance public policies resulting from the removal of certain roles from the Secretariat of Human Rights for Recent History, now incorporated into a more general structure.
As reported by elpais.com.uy.
