Frankly, we positively welcome (the regulation) and laud the minister of education, culture, research, and technology
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani) Chairwoman, Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo, supports the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation (Permendikbudristek) Number 30 of 2021 on Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in the College Environment.

“This Permendikbudristek is very good. The issuance of this regulation is good news," she stated here, Tuesday.

Wiyogo remarked that the regulation was a step forward in the efforts to protect women from sexual harassment. The regulation regulates not only preventive efforts but also handling and stringent sanctions for perpetrators.

Moreover, the regulation regulates meetings between lecturers and students to be held in the campus environment and during class hours. The Kowani chairwoman admitted to the fact that lecturers occasionally sought time beyond class hours on grounds of being busy.


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“Sometimes there are lecturers who ask to meet outside class hours and sexually harass the students, for instance, by touching the student's hand," she pointed out.

Wiyogo emphasized that unwanted touching, such as holding a person's hand or poking, are forms of sexual harassment.

"Frankly, we positively welcome (the regulation) and laud the minister of education, culture, research, and technology,” she noted.

Several women indeed experienced sexual harassment, and several of the cases remain unreported, she added.

An official of Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Anang Ristanto, had earlier stated that the regulation issued for preventing and handling sexual violence in the college environment aligned with the purpose of education.

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Ristanto noted that within the National Education System Law, education is a conscious and planned effort to realize the learning environment and process.

This effort is made, so that students can actively develop their inner potential to have self-control as well as religious, psychological, intellectual, and moral strength.

Ristanto remarked that sexual violence was one of the obstacles faced in realizing the purpose of education.

He elaborated that the ministerial regulation stipulates aspects that were earlier not dealt with in detail, thereby resulting in less-than-optimal handling of sexual violence cases in universities.


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Translator: Indriani, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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