The Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Satgas PPKS UGM) has received an award from the National Commission on Violence Against Women for implementing conducive policies to eliminate gender-based violence.
The award was presented on Wednesday (Oct. 16) at Kuningan Hotel, Jakarta. The commission’s chairperson, Andy Yentriyani, handed the certificate of appreciation directly to the Chairperson of Satgas PPKS UGM, Professor Yayi Suryo Prabandari.
This award was given in commemoration of the National Commission on Violence Against Women’s 26th anniversary and as a gesture of appreciation to its partners.
The commission acknowledged 26 ministries/agencies, mass media, and universities that have made significant breakthroughs in creating safe spaces for women.
Professor Prabandari expressed her gratitude that UGM, through its Satgas PPKS, was recognized by the National Commission on Violence Against Women. She pointed out that UGM was the only university among the 26 awardees to receive this honor.
“We are truly grateful that UGM’s efforts through Satgas PPKS, established in 2022, have been acknowledged by the National Commission on Violence Against Women,” Professor Prabandari told reporters on Thursday (Oct. 17).
Andy Yentriyani, Chairperson of the National Commission on Violence Against Women, stated that this recognition encourages collaborative efforts and inspires cross-sectoral cooperation to continue advancing women’s rights.
“We hope this inspires everyone to see that by working together, we can achieve a lot,” said Andy Yentriyani.
During the 2024 National Commission on Violence Against Women Appreciation Ceremony, there were three awards categories. The first was for coordination in handling gender-based violence and strengthening victim support institutions.
The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, the National Police Commission, Jakarta’s regional government, and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency were among the recipients.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the DPR Commission III received awards for conducive policies for eliminating gender-based violence.
PT KAI, AJI (Alliance of Independent Journalists), JALA PRT (Domestic Workers Network), and the Archdiocese of Jakarta were among the recipients in the category of pioneers in creating safe spaces from violence.
Professor Prabandari mentioned that besides receiving the award from the commission, on Monday (Oct. 7), UGM also received the Cerdas Berkarakter University Award 2024, along with four other universities: Universitas Budi Luhur (Jakarta), Universitas Negeri Cendana (Kupang), Politeknik Negeri Bandung, and Politeknik Negeri Batam.
This award was presented by the Center for Character Strengthening (Puspeka), Secretariat General, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to educational stakeholders who have implemented strategic and practical programs/policies in creating inclusive, diverse, and violence-free learning environments to fulfill the Pancasila Student Profile.
In response to reporters’ questions about the handling of sexual violence cases at UGM, Professor Prabandari explained that all reports are addressed as quickly as possible and followed up by an investigative team if there is suspicion of sexual violence.
“If the nature of the sexual violence is unclear, we consult with the faculty of the reported party or refer the case to the appropriate unit,” she elaborated.
Professor Prabandari acknowledged that handling sexual violence cases poses significant challenges, as the process requires an investigative team from various elements, which can take time.
“Especially when external parties are involved, coordination is necessary, which also takes time. Meanwhile, victims often want their cases resolved quickly. We mitigate this by collaborating with various parties, streamlining the organization, and increasing human resources,” she explained.
Author: Gusti Grehenson