Legislator calls for comprehensive evaluation of sexual violence prevention on campuses
We must not tolerate perpetrators of sexual violence on campus. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology must take firm action.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of the House of Representatives Commission X, Habib Syarief Muhammad, has called on the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the systems for preventing and handling sexual violence in higher education institutions.
“We must not tolerate perpetrators of sexual violence on campus. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology must take firm action,” said Habib, quoted in Jakarta on Thursday.
He made this statement in response to cases of sexual violence in university environments, including allegations of verbal sexual harassment at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (UI), involving 16 students.
Furthermore, Habib stressed that sexual violence in university settings constitutes a serious violation of humanitarian values and the world of education. According to him, educational institutions should serve as spaces to instil values of respect, equality, and civilised relationships.
Habib Syarief also highlighted that similar cases are not limited to UI. Previously, allegations of sexual violence occurred at Universitas Budi Luhur (UBL), involving a lecturer against a student, and at Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (Untirta), involving a student against a lecturer.
Given this trend, he assessed that handling sexual violence cannot be done partially and left entirely to individual campuses.
Next, he emphasised the importance of strengthening regulations, providing safe reporting mechanisms for victims, and continuous education and socialisation in higher education environments.
According to him, these steps need to be part of a comprehensive evaluation to ensure such cases do not continue to recur in the future.
“Campuses must be safe spaces for the entire academic community. The state must not neglect in guaranteeing such protection,” he said.