UIII Takes the Front Line in Combating Sexual Violence on Campus

By Supriyono | Photo: Achmad Jatnika 

 

Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive academic environment by hosting a Sexual Violence Prevention and Awareness Session on 26 January 2026. It reflected UIII’s proactive approach to preventing and addressing sexual violence through institutional regulations, awareness-building, and survivor-centered responses.

Attended by students, university leaders, faculty members, and staff, the forum emphasized that sexual violence is not merely an individual issue but a structural challenge that must be addressed through firm policies and a culture of accountability within universities.

Secretary of UIII’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Task Force (PPKS), Prof. Nina Nurmila, PhD, stressed that sexual violence on campus is often silenced or even justified in the name of culture, family honour, or institutional reputation, an issue that persists in many countries.

“In many parts of the world, sexual violence is still ignored or protected under the pretext of tradition, family reputation, or institutional image. This culture of silence must be addressed. At UIII, we are committed to ensuring that sexual violence is never normalized or hidden,” said Prof. Nina.

She emphasized that UIII has established clear regulations and social mechanisms to prevent sexual violence, alongside firm procedures to handle cases when violations occur.

“We already have regulations and a prevention framework in place. If sexual violence occurs, the university is prepared to respond seriously, through verification, protection for victims, and decisive follow-up in accordance with our procedures. Our commitment is to ensure that the campus remains a safe space for everyone,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, Sondang Frishka Simanjuntak, S.H., LL.M, Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), provided a national human rights perspective on sexual violence prevention.

She explained that Komnas Perempuan serves as Indonesia’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with a specific mandate to build a conducive environment for the elimination of violence against women and the promotion of women’s human rights.

“In 2024 alone, 330,097 cases of gender-based violence against women were reported—an increase of 14.17 per cent from 289,111 cases in 2023,” Sondang said. “The majority of these cases occurred in the personal sphere, with 309,516 cases, followed by 12,004 cases in the public sphere and 209 cases involving state-related violence,” she added.

The session also drew lessons from other universities. Dr. Titin Ungsianik, S.Kp., M.B.A, Chairperson of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Task Force at Universitas Indonesia (UI), shared insights into UI’s preventive and responsive measures.

Dr. Titin elaborated that UI has developed a Standard Operating Procedure for the Prevention and Response of Sexual Violence based on Permendikbudristek No. 55/2024, complemented by continuous education through social media, webinars, leadership training, and campus-wide surveys.

“Our efforts include communicating regularly with relevant directorates, and allocating dedicated staff (stafsus) at the university level to support the implementation of task force duties and internal coordination. Additionally, we also establishing direct collaboration with various service units within and outside the university  such as Security Office, Psychologists, Komnas Perempuan,” said Dr. Titin.

Through this forum, UIII reaffirmed its commitment to going beyond compliance by actively shaping a campus culture that prioritizes safety, dignity, and human rights. By strengthening its internal mechanisms and engaging with national and peer institutions, UIII continues to position itself as a leading university in confronting sexual violence in higher education.