Sexual violence is a pressing issue in higher education institutions that demands significant attention for immediate action.
There are 21 forms of sexual violence identified on campus, including verbal, physical, and non-physical acts and discriminatory or harassing remarks about physical appearance, body conditions, and more.
Therefore, a special task force is needed to provide training and raise awareness about preventing online gender-based violence and the spread of non-consensual intimate content within the campus community.
This was highlighted during the Online Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Non-Consensual Intimate Content Dissemination Training, held in Multimedia Room 1 at the UGM Central Office on Monday (Nov. 18).
The training was organized by UGM’s Task Force for Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling (Satgas PPKS) in collaboration with the Integrated Health Service Bureau (BPKT) and the Directorate of Student Affairs (Ditmawa).
The featured speakers included Professor Raden Ajeng Yayi Suryo Prabandari, Head of Satgas PPKS UGM; Dr. Ratna Noviani, lecturer and researcher of Cultural and Media Studies at UGM’s Graduate School; and Arif Nurcahyo, Head of UGM’s Security, Safety, Order, Emergency, and Environment (K5L).
Professor Prabandari stated that UGM has issued Rector Regulation Number 1 of 2023 on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in the UGM Community.
Through this regulation, Professor Prabandari hopes that victims will not hesitate to report or address any cases occurring within the campus environment through the task forces at the university or faculty levels.
“This is crucial so that sexual violence cases at UGM can receive immediate attention and prevention, followed by case reviews by the Examination Committee,” she explained.
She mentioned that some forms of sexual violence include any actions that degrade, insult, harass, cause discomfort, and/or attack the body and/or gender.
Actions that result in or can result in psychological and/or physical suffering, including those that affect reproductive health and lost opportunities to conduct education, research, and community service safely and optimally, are included.
Moreover, she added, forms of sexual violence also encompass actions carried out verbally, non-physically, physically, and/or through information and communication technology, such as Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) and the dissemination of Non-Consensual Intimate Content (NCII).
“There are 21 forms of sexual violence on campus, including verbal, physical, non-physical, and information and communication technology actions, such as remarks that discriminate against or harass physical appearance, body conditions, and so on,” she said.
Dr. Noviani discussed OGBV cases, noting that the ease of digital technology, especially the internet and various digital platforms, makes anyone a potential perpetrator or victim.
“OGBV practices today are intertwined with digital media technology, which is why many parties, including the government, are encouraging more responsible use of digital technology,” she explained.
Nurcahyo pointed out that preventing and addressing sexual violence requires the involvement of all components, especially in dealing with emergencies on campus.
“Technical information distribution, awareness-raising, and basic joint training should be conducted regularly at various units to foster awareness of security and safety as a shared responsibility,” he explained.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Donnie