Ministry Issues Regulation to Prevent Sexual Violence in Universities

TheIndonesia.id - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology issued a ministerial regulation on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence at Higher Education Institution. The Ministry’s Regulation No. 30/2021 seeks to eradicate sexual violence cases that occur at higher education institutions.

National figures have expressed their agreement on the issuance of this regulation since reports of sexual assault and violence in universities remain high. It’s seen as a solid legal basis for victims and law enforcers to make reports and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Renowned Muslim cleric KH Husein Muhammad, or more famously known as Buya Husein, said he fully supported the regulation and asked concerning institutions to massively educate the public about the points stipulated.

“[The regulation] must be disseminated massively and continuously to educators and students,” Husein said on Tuesday, 9 November 2021.

Law Professor at Airlangga University Basuki Rekso Wibowo also stated that it should be easier for universities to process sexual violence reports and take action on it upon this issuance.

“Higher education institutions are able to start legal proceedings against sexual violence perpetrators,” Wibowo explained.

The National Commission for Women previously revealed that between 2015 and 2020, 27 percent of sexual violence cases reported in educational institutions happened in universities. A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in 2019 that looked into places where sexual harassments often occur also placed campuses in third position (15 percent), after streets (33 percent), and public transportation (19 percent).

The ministerial regulation, therefore, is expected to create a safer and conducive environment for students to learn and develop more skills.

Not Without Objection

However, despite good intentions laid out by the Ministry, the regulation has been receiving criticism.

Chairman of Shura Council from Prosperous Justice Party, or PKS, Salim Segaf voiced his disappointment with the regulation, citing it as against cultural and religious norms.

He described one point that states “without the consent of the victim” as problematic. “The definition of sexual violence is very limited which is without victim’s consent. It means that if it’s based on mutual consent then it’s not considered as sexual violence,” Salim said on Wednesday, 10 November 2021.

He later urged state officials to conduct in-depth studies prior to making public policies.

An official from the Ministry Nizam said the purpose of the regulation is not to legalize adultery but to prevent sexual assaults from happening again in universities.

“Not one word in this ministerial regulation indicates that the Ministry allows adultery. A highlight of this regulation is ‘prevention’ and not ‘legalization’.

“Most [of the victims] are apprehensive about making a report, and sexual violence leads to trauma in victims. This illustrates how urgent it is to issue this regulation,” he concluded.