The Public Relations and News Division of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a workshop titled “Developing Narratives for the Publication of Sexual Violence Cases” on Monday, May 5, 2025, at the UGM Central Office. This workshop was part of the university’s efforts to strengthen governance and communication systems in handling sexual violence cases.
Attended by representatives from media units across UGM faculties and work units, the workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of information managers to develop ethical, victim-centered, and responsible narratives for public communication.
“Sexual violence issues cannot be addressed solely through legal and administrative approaches; they must also be viewed through psychosocial, communicative, and victim protection lenses. Universities must be safe spaces for all academic community members,” said UGM University Secretary Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius in his opening remarks.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the victim’s perspective in both handling and communicating sexual violence (SV) cases.
He also stressed the need for collaborative work between the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Satgas PPKS UGM), information managers, and unit leaders to build public trust.
The workshop was expected to serve as a starting point for establishing a standardized crisis communication protocol responsive to SV cases.
“UGM hopes that after this workshop, all participants will be able to craft effective narratives. And don’t keep these skills to yourself; share them with your colleagues, because SV is often difficult to grasp,” he urged.
Dr. Ratna Noviani, a lecturer from the Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), served as the main speaker.
She outlined principles for crafting ethical narratives that do not blame victims or symbolically reproduce violence in reports or documentation.
Dr. Noviani emphasized that the publication of SV cases must be done with extreme caution and always from a victim-centered perspective.
Internal campus media also have to strategically shape public opinion in favor of justice for victims.
Furthermore, Dr. Noviani stressed the importance of aligning institutional values with the communication practices during crises.
“Publications can often become a form of secondary violence, for example, when a victim’s identity is revealed or when the narrative highlights the victim’s perceived behavioral flaws,” she explained.
She also shared several practical guidelines for writing press releases on SV cases.
Recommended actions include using neutral, non-blaming language, affirming the institution’s commitment to justice and recovery, and ensuring the information presented does not retraumatize the victim.
On the other hand, actions to avoid include providing graphic details of the incident, revealing identifiable information about the victim, and inserting gender-biased or moralistic opinions.
“In SV cases, narrative is not just a tool of communication. It is like politics; it can serve as a means of protection or, conversely, become a tool of further violence,” Dr. Noviani stated.
She also stressed the importance of distinguishing between institutional communication needs and the interests of public journalism.
Thus, every release or public statement should undergo an ethical review, not just a legal one.
A cross-disciplinary approach is crucial to formulating communication policies that are both supportive and accountable.
“Institutional narratives must show clear support for the victim while maintaining accountability, without disclosing details that could jeopardize the victim’s recovery,” she explained.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in a discussion and practice session.
Guided by Elok Santi Jesica, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Fisipol UGM, participants examined example narratives and worked in groups to draft official statements based on case studies.
These drafts were then reviewed collectively from ethical and communicative perspectives.
This participatory approach heightened participants’ awareness of the potential impact of their narratives.
Several attendees expressed the need for such forums to be held regularly to adapt to the evolving nature of case handling on campus.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Firsto