Commission X Meets with UI-ITB Rectors Following Campus Sexual Harassment Case

Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) held a closed hearing (RDP) with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) and four renowned universities in Indonesia following sexual harassment cases on campuses on Monday, 20 April 2026. The four universities involved include Universitas Indonesia (UI), Universitas Padjajaran (Unpad), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB). “In addition to our colleagues from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek RI), we have invited leaders from the four universities. We thank UI for making this halal bihalal silaturahmi possible today,” said Chair of Commission X DPR RI, Hetifah Sjaifudian, during the meeting. Present at the meeting were UI Rector Herry Hermansyah, Dean of UI Faculty of Law Parulian Paidi Aritonang, and representatives from the UI Faculty of Law Student Executive Board (BEM FH UI). From ITB, Rector Irwan Meilano and Andryanto Rikrik Kusmara attended. Hetifah explained that the commission decided to hold the meeting in closed session to delve deeper into the cases without revealing the identities of those involved. “Closed, so we can be more intimate, more able to explore various matters that might concern names or teams. Perhaps it’s better to keep it closed,” she said. “Yes, fine, we will conduct this meeting closed to the public,” Hetifah added. Chronology of the Sexual Harassment Previously reported, 16 students from the UI Faculty of Law are suspected of involvement in an alleged verbal sexual harassment case. Deputy Chair of BEM UI, Fathimah Azzahra, revealed that the alleged harassment occurred in a conversation in a group chat that was exposed on Sunday, 12 April 2026. “The content of the conversation included harassment and objectification of women, from fellow students to even lecturers in their own faculty,” Fathimah told reporters. She described the actions as highly concerning, given that the perpetrators are students from a leading legal education institution. “The suspects made indecent remarks; they have manifested as sexual predators who seize safe spaces and injure moral values,” Fathimah explained. Meanwhile, Universitas Indonesia (UI) has taken firm action against the 16 students. They have been subjected to temporary academic suspension as part of the initial handling process.