DPR's Commission X Holds Closed-Door Meeting with 4 Rectors to Discuss Sexual Harassment

Commission X of the House of Representatives held an opinion-hearing meeting with Rector of Universitas Indonesia (UI) Heri Hermansyah, Rector of Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) Irwan Meilano, Rector of Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) Arief Sjamsulaksan Kartasasmita, and Rector of Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) Alim Setiawan Slamet regarding several recent sexual harassment cases. The meeting was held in closed session.

The meeting took place in the Commission X meeting room of the DPR RI, Nusantara I, DPR RI, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (20/4/2026). The meeting was directly chaired by the Chair of Commission X DPR RI, Hetifah Sjaifudian.

In addition to the university rectors, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at UI, Parulian Paidi Aritonang, was present. For information, the Faculty of Law at UI had previously caused a stir due to a sexual harassment group chat case involving more than a dozen students. Several student executive bodies also attended the meeting.

Furthermore, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology included Acting Secretary General Badri Munir Sukoco, Acting Inspector General Nur Syarifah, and Acting Director General of Higher Education Med Setiawan.

“Alhamdulillah, we are still given the opportunity to gather together, and today, according to reports from the secretariat colleagues, five factions are present, thus fulfilling the DPR RI procedural rules,” said Hetifah at the start of the meeting.

Hetifah then questioned the forum on whether the meeting should be open or closed. The meeting forum decided to hold it in closed session because it concerned matters related to sexual harassment.

“Allow us to open this RDP and declare the meeting—perhaps, according to the gentlemen and ladies, since it concerns, should it be closed or open? Closed?” asked Hetifah.

“So that we can explore various matters more thoroughly, which might involve names, it would be better to hold it closed, right?” she continued.

“Closed,” replied the meeting forum.

“Very well, we will conduct this meeting in closed session to the public; please allow us, friends,” added Hetifah.

As of now, the meeting is still ongoing. The issues discussed relate to sexual harassment in higher education.