The Sexual Violence Crime Law, officially in force since May 9, 2022, heralds a promising era for addressing cases of sexual violence and safeguarding women and children in Indonesia, particularly within the higher education landscape.
Despite this legislative progress, the stark reality persists—sexual violence continues to cast a shadow over university campuses. A 2020 survey by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology documented sexual violence complaints at all educational levels, with a substantial 27% arising from university environments.
To combat this issue head-on, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology took decisive action by issuing Regulation No. 30 of 2021, focusing on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in Higher Education.
This initiative gave rise to the Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force (Satgas PPKS), aimed at shielding women from sexual violence in higher education.
As of 2023, all state universities have formed Satgas PPKS, 109 private universities are in the process, and 20 private universities have successfully established their task forces.
With the Sexual Violence Crime Law and Ministry of Education Regulation No. 30 of 2021 in place, a crucial step emerges—connecting existing Women’s Empowerment Service Units at the regional government level, enabling campus units to input sexual violence data into the SIMPONI PPA application.
In a bid to bolster the capacity of Satgas PPKS across public and private higher education institutions, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, in collaboration with UGM’s Satgas PPKS, orchestrated technical guidance on the Sexual Violence Crime Law’s implementation in Yogyakarta. The event unfolded on Dec. 5-6 at the Sheraton Yogyakarta Hotel.
Psychologist and the head of the event committee, Istiqomah Yungsiana, shared that the event drew 120 participants from 30 higher education institutions in Yogyakarta and surrounding areas. Each university was represented by a quartet comprising two lecturers (male and female) and two student members of Satgas PPKS.
“The event consists of nine sessions, featuring several speakers from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, UGM’s Satgas PPKS, and Aliansi Laki-Laki Baru,” she explained.
The sessions covered a diverse array of topics, from the importance of building internal and external synergy in university sexual violence handling to mechanisms for addressing sexual violence on campus based on prevailing regulations.
Group discussions, reflections on challenges and opportunities, and an exploration of the SIMPONI data and information system were integral components of the event.
Session 7 delved into the significance of sexual violence prevention in the campus environment, featuring insights from Professor Yayi Suryo Prabandari, Secretary of UGM’s Satgas PPKS; Nur Hasyim, co-founder of Aliansi Laki-Laki Baru; and Dr. Ratna Noviani, a lecturer in Cultural and Media Studies at the UGM Graduate School.
As the event concluded, session 9 saw the formulation of proposals for the mechanism to handle sexual violence cases at universities, marking a collaborative step towards a safer and more secure academic environment.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Donnie