All universities should integrate gender-based violence and sexual violence issues into their educational curriculum and teaching materials. Additionally, learning environments and supporting facilities should be built to be safe from acts of violence and inclusive of diverse needs.
This is one of the recommendations from the National Conference of Task Forces for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Satgas PPKS) in Indonesian Higher Education, held at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, on July 24–25.
Dr. Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, Chair of UGM’s Satgas PPKS, stated in an official statement on Monday (Jul. 29) that the recommendations from this conference are expected to strengthen efforts to address all acts of sexual violence on campuses.
She emphasized that universities must establish protection mechanisms for lecturers, students, and educational staff involved in Satgas PPKS, including legal, physical, and psychological protection and rights associated with their roles as academic community members.
“Universities must facilitate the development of creative and innovative sexual violence prevention programs through collaborative initiatives across faculties, educational institutions, students and families, and social partners to monitor and enforce regulations and sanctions,” Dr. Eddyono said.
The recommendations also highlighted the need for Satgas PPKS across Indonesia to strengthen sexual violence prevention efforts on campuses by educating about sexual violence, building a safe and anonymous reporting system to encourage victims to report incidents without fear, and creating mechanisms specifically for handling Online Gender-Based Violence (KBGO) by providing online support services.
“Moreover, Satgas PPKS should promote its authority and develop monitoring programs for sanction implementation and victim recovery,” Dr. Eddyono added.
Policymakers, particularly the ministries, must issue binding policies that elevate Satgas PPKS’s status in higher education institutions to become units within their organizational structure and provide facilities and resources like other units. This aims to strengthen Satgas PPKS’s institutional capacity and ensure it is not limited to state universities.
Equally important, Bappenas needs to synchronize various regulations related to PPKS, such as Law No. 12/2022, Law No. 1/2023, and Minister of Education and Culture Regulation 30/2021.
“Bappenas can also develop programs that provide support and facilities for sexual violence victims in higher education to ensure the continuity of their education,” she said.
Dr. Eddyono stated that the National Commission on Violence Against Women should synergize with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection to comprehensively document and analyze cases, thereby strengthening the monitoring of PPKS policy implementation in higher education institutions.
“Komnas Perempuan can conduct studies on discriminatory policies in higher education and synergize with the Ministry of Education and Culture in evaluating and revising institutions with discriminatory policies that may lead to sexual violence,” she said.
In the media environment, measures can be taken to prevent sexual violence cases, ensuring that media institutions and organizations provide protection and education to journalists in reporting news while considering the security, safety, and avoidance of reporting methods and terminology that expose the victim’s identity and sexual history.
“Journalist organizations can conduct training on integrating victim perspectives into news writing on sexual violence,” Dr. Eddyono added.
She stated that universities could follow up on the recommendations through Satgas PPKS, the Ministry of Education and Culture, Bappenas, the National Commission on Violence Against Women, local governments through the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for Women’s and Children’s Protection, civil society organizations, and the media.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photographer: Firsto