Komnas Perempuan Responds to Assault on Female Student at UIN Suska Riau

Violence against women is rooted in gender dynamics, given that the victim is a woman. The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) says the assault on a female student of Sultan Syarif Kasim State Islamic University (UIN Suska) Riau occurred due to unequal relations between men and women. ‘The case at UIN Suska occurred because there is an unequal relationship between men and women. This unequal relational construction mirrors the patriarchal structures still present in our society,’ said Devi Rahayu, a member of Komnas Perempuan, when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday. In such an unequal relationship, she continued, women are viewed as the weaker, easier to control, and more inferior party. Komnas Perempuan expresses regret over the case, especially since it happened on campus. ‘A campus, which is a public space, should be able to guarantee a safe space for the academic community,’ Devi Rahayu said. The assault occurred on the campus of UIN Suska Riau when the victim was about to undergo a seminar proposal. The severe assault was motivated by a personal relationship. The Riau Police have named RM as a suspect. The victim is currently in recovery after major surgery.