Rising Campus Harassment Prompts JPPI to Advocate for Regular Audits of Satgas PPKS Operations

The Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) has condemned the proliferation of sexual harassment cases occurring in university environments. JPPI Coordinator Ubaid Matraji views this as a consequence of Indonesia’s still feudalistic education system.

“The surge in these cases proves that campuses remain safe zones for predators. The root problem is not merely individual morality, but the feudalistic education system,” said Ubaid when contacted on Sunday (19/4/2026).

“Our campuses are not yet egalitarian. Lecturers or Professors are regarded as ‘gods’ who hold complete control over students’ academic fates, such as grades, graduation, and supervision. This creates space for dark transactions that are vulnerable to abuse for harassment,” he continued.

This month, four sexual harassment cases on campuses have emerged in the public eye. Two cases involve lewd group chats at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia, and Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB).

The other two cases are a sexual harassment incident by a professor at Padjadjaran University against a foreign female student, and a sexual harassment case by a lecturer at Budi Luhur University against a female student.

According to Ubaid, the prevalence of harassment on campuses is also due to university leaders’ reluctance to strengthen the Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force (Satgas PPKS). This minimal support renders Satgas PPKS toothless in investigating and preventing sexual violence in campus environments.

“Many Satgas PPKS on campuses are not independent because their structure is still under the rectorate bureaucracy. As a result, they often hesitate to act if the perpetrator is a ‘powerful’ person or campus official, fearing damage to the institution’s reputation,” explained Ubaid.

JPPI also highlights the tendency of campuses to play it safe in responding to sexual harassment cases involving their community. According to JPPI, campuses often prioritise peaceful resolutions in handling sexual violence cases to preserve the institution’s good name.

“Campuses are often busy washing their hands and protecting branding rather than safeguarding victims. Instead of siding with victims, campuses frequently push for ‘peaceful paths’ for the sake of the alma mater’s reputation,” he said.

JPPI calls for several changes to curb sexual harassment rates on campuses. First, there must be a movement for fair gender education starting from an early age, beginning in primary school.

Ubaid stated that schools and universities must integrate gender perspectives and digital ethics into the curriculum to dismantle patriarchal mindsets that perpetuate harassment in both physical and digital spaces.

JPPI also urges the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to conduct regular audits of Satgas PPKS performance. If a university is proven to cover up cases or fail to firmly sanction perpetrators, especially professors and lecturers, continued Ubaid, then that university’s accreditation must be downgraded or revoked.

“There must be uncompromising dismissal and criminal sanctions. There should be no room for mediation in sexual violence. Perpetrators must receive the highest administrative sanctions and be prosecuted criminally under the TPKS Law, regardless of their academic position,” Ubaid concluded.