UMN’s Significant Step with The Higher Education Service Institution  Region III in Creating a Safe Academic Environment in Higher Education

Representative of the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence of PTS LLDikti Region III (Doc. UMN)

TANGERANG, April 19, 2024 – To create an academic environment that is safe and free from sexual violence, the Higher Education Service Institution (Lembaga Layanan Pendidikan Tinggi/LLDikti) together with the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Pencegahan dan Penanganan Kekerasan Seksual/PPKS) from Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) and Politeknik Multimedia Nusantara (PMN) held a coordination meeting and routine briefing for the Heads of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force in the Higher Education Service Institution Region III.

At this event, an integrity pact was signed, and a declaration was read led by Budi Santoso, Chair of the UMN Senate, to all UMN lecturers and staff. UMN initiated this step as part of its commitment to the prevention and handling of sexual violence. It is expected to invite all private universities’ Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force in the Higher Education Service Institution Region III to voice the importance of this issue together.

The event was attended by the ranks of the Higher Education Service Institution, the UMN rectorate, and representatives from 148 educational institutions in the Higher Education Service Institution Region III.

Prof. Dr. Toni Toharudin, S.Si., M.Sc., Head of the Higher Education Service Institution Region III, emphasized the importance of accelerating the formation of a Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force in all private universities. Until now, only about 50% of private universities have a Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence. 

He also said that the Higher Education Service Institution has set strategies to support this acceleration, including evaluating the Smart Indonesia Card and postponing promotion for lecturers from private universities that have not formed a Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force.

As the host, UMN Rector Dr. Ninok Leksono, M.A. emphasized that sexual violence cases are something that must be taken seriously. This aligns with UMN, which has taken firm steps by forming a Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force.

“I hope that through events like this, ladies and gentlemen can be inspired on how to create a safe space but also have knowledge of the task force to handle existing problems,” Dr. Ninok said.

Dr. Chatarina Gives Her Support to the Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Forces (Doc. UMN)

Present at this event, Dr. Chatarina Muliana Girsang, Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), also gave her statement. She emphasized that overcoming cases of sexual violence is not an easy thing. Dr. Chatarina highlighted that there will be many challenges from the design of regulations to their implementation because this commitment requires excellent time and effort.

“We really appreciate the role of institutions in this sexual violence prevention effort because the government has a vision of national education that not only emphasizes intellectual intelligence but also the mental health of the nation’s children,” Dr. Chatarina explained.

She added that the formation of a Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force is part of the government’s program to prevent one of the great sins of education, namely sexual violence. The government continues to develop and implement policies to facilitate the steps taken by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Forces.

“The Ministry of Education and Culture guarantees the availability of communication space for universities that want to discuss,” said Dr. Chatarina.

In the second session, the committee presented Nathanael, E. J. Sumampouw, M.Psi., Ph.D., a forensic psychologist, who explained investigation techniques for perpetrators and victims from the victim’s perspective. She emphasized that not judging the victim in the interview process is vital. The questioner should prioritize active listening to the victim’s story and provide an open space for them to speak.

“In gathering information, the strength of the victim’s memory is key; therefore, it is important for victims to feel comfortable and unencumbered when giving their statements,” explained Nathanael. He added that when investigating the perpetrator, the questioner needs to understand the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim and ask questions openly and non-blamingly so that the perpetrator does not feel pressured and resist.

(Doc. UMN)

The Chairperson of the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence, Intan Primadini, S.Sos., M.Si., emphasized that UMN considers the handling of sexual violence cases a priority that must be considered. UMN has taken various steps in handling and preventing sexual violence on campus. 

UMN seeks to create a safe space and healthy relationships for all campus residents through debriefing activities and seminars. These initiatives include briefings on gender equality, investigation techniques, and involving students in active roles as members of the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence.

“The Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence routinely campaigns for educational information and provides guidance on how to report cases of sexual violence, thus increasing awareness and involvement of all campus elements in the prevention and handling of these problems,” Intan said.

In this briefing event, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) session was held to discuss challenges and solutions related to forming the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence. Through this FGD, representatives from various universities shared experiences and learned from each other. The results of this FGD were then used as discussion material for the Higher Education Service Institution and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in developing strategies for handling and preventing sexual violence in the university environment.

This event is a concrete step in a joint effort to handle and prevent sexual violence in higher education. With the collaboration between the Higher Education Service Institution, universities, and the ministry, it is hoped that the results of this seminar and FGD will become the foundation for more effective and comprehensive policy implementation in the future.

by Ivana Auliya | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

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