Parliament Urges UI to Take Firm Stance on Alleged Lewd Chat Case Involving Students

Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the DPR, Lalu Hadrian, has urged Universitas Indonesia (UI) to take a firm stance on the alleged sexual harassment case implicating 16 students from the Faculty of Law (FH). Lalu explained that the handling of violence and sexual harassment cases within university environments is regulated by Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation No. 55 of 2024 on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education Settings. The regulation covers mechanisms for prevention, reporting, and comprehensive case management. However, Lalu stated that the application of this rule depends on university leadership. “Therefore, higher education institutions must ensure that the regulation is truly implemented, not just as a formality,” Lalu said when contacted on Tuesday (14/4). The PKB politician views recurring cases of sexual harassment and violence, including at FH UI, as evidence that the regulation’s implementation is not yet optimal. According to Lalu, universities are generally half-hearted and weak in their supervisory commitments, lacking the courage to take firm and transparent action against violations. Yet, campuses can activate task forces and open reporting channels for various forms of alleged sexual harassment and violence. “The key is consistent implementation of the regulation and handling that is biased towards the victims,” he said. FH UI has held an internal hearing for the 16 students accused of sexual harassment. The hearing, broadcast live on several social media platforms, was tense and even turned chaotic. UI Rector Heri Hermansyah reaffirmed his commitment to combating every case of sexual harassment and violence on campus. Heri said he had only recently learned of the information and is awaiting a report from the faculty. He assured that the handling process is proceeding according to procedure. UI, he added, is committed to creating a safe campus environment free from sexual violence for the entire academic community. “But I have also been following it in various media. The Dean of the Faculty of Law has responded. So, at the Rectorate, we will monitor how the handling is at the faculty level,” he said.