According to Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the first measure involves investigating the incidence of violence and sexual harassment at all educational units, from the level of madrasas to religious institutes or colleges.
"I have ordered the administration to investigate such schools like these, these boarding schools, which we suspected, about the occurrence of similar violations, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and so on," the minister said in a statement here on Tuesday.
The second measure is to cooperate with the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), the police, and other parties to address violence and sexual harassment issues, including their investigation process, he informed.
Qoumas said that he was concerned that cases of sexual harassment which surfaced in educational institutions recently were a part of an iceberg phenomenon, with their prevalence yet to be revealed due to various factors.
"We want to solve this. Hopefully, there will be no more cases. We ask for support (so) we can solve this problem immediately. This is not only harmful to Islam('s image) but also (detrimental to) the children who are victims and their families; we pity them," he remarked.
The ministry will also improve the procedures for granting operational permits to religious education institutions, he informed.
He then highlighted the importance of reinforcing verification and validation before issuing recommendations.
"So, the recommendations issued from the Religious Affairs Ministry are not just limited in the form of paper. Recommendations must be based on the results of verification and field validation. So, the officers must come to see, witness, then issue permit recommendations," Qoumas elaborated.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi urged the public, particularly students, to come forward and report sexual violence.
"Hopefully, similar cases won't happen again. Encourage victims to be brave enough to report any suspicious or bad actions from anyone, whoever it is," Sa'adi stressed.
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Translator: Asep F, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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