From Ministers to DPR, Spotlight on Sexual Harassment at FHUI

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The case of alleged online sexual harassment involving 16 students from the Faculty of Law at Universitas Indonesia (FH UI) has become a national spotlight. Based on the latest developments, the number of victims in this case has reached 27 people. Various parties, from the DPR, government to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), are urging that the perpetrators be dealt with firmly and the victims receive maximum protection. “The victims I represent number 20 people, all of whom I represent are students from the lecturer element, the last I heard there are seven people and there are still many other victims who may not even know they are being talked about there,” she said on Tuesday (14/4/2026). Deputy Chair of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives MY Esti Wijayanti asked the campus side not only to impose internal sanctions but also to encourage legal handling of the perpetrators. “Legal intervention is needed to create a deterrent effect for justice for the victims, and parties harmed by this case,” said Esti in her statement on Wednesday (15/4/2026). Esti assessed that the actions of the perpetrators have met the elements of sexual violence as regulated in Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS). “With the implementation of firm sanctions in accordance with the UU TPKS, we hope that all of society, especially in the academic environment, will not allow such incidents to happen again,” she revealed. Esti also emphasised that verbal harassment cannot be considered as ordinary jokes. “This is not just a joke in the group chat. This is a form of sexual harassment that damages mental health and cannot be tolerated in the education environment,” she said. She added that the campus environment must be a safe space free from all forms of violence. “Do not normalise harassment or sexual violence, in any form. The education environment must have zero tolerance for every act of sexual violence,” said Esti.