"This new regulation firmly states that there should be no policies that can potentially cause violence, be it in the form of decrees, circulars, official notes, appeals, instructions, guidelines and others,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim issued regulation for prevention and strict action against sexual violence, bullying, discrimination and intolerance.

Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister's Regulation (Permendikbud) Number 46 of 2023 on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Educational Units, which is part of Independent Learning Episode 25, was ratified as a legal basis for all members of schools or educational units, so that prevention and strict action can be taken against sexual violence, bullying, discrimination, and intolerance.

Makarim, at the launch of the Independent Learning Episode 25 here on Tuesday, stated that the regulation helps educational units in handling violence cases, including violence that is online-based and psychological, with a perspective that supports victims.

According to the minister, the newly issued regulation will protect students, educators and educational staff from violence in learning activities both within and outside educational units.

He further explained that the regulation replaced the earlier regulation, namely Permendikbud Number 82 of 2015 on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Educational Units.

It also offers a clear definition to differentiate forms of physical violence, psychological violence, bullying, sexual violence, discrimination, and intolerance.

"This new regulation firmly states that there should be no policies that can potentially cause violence, be it in the form of decrees, circulars, official notes, appeals, instructions, guidelines and others," he remarked.

The regulation also regulates the prevention mechanism by educational units, regional governments, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, as well as violence handling management that supports victims' recovery.

Educational units are also mandated to form a Violence Prevention and Handling Team (TPPK), while provincial, city, and district governments are mandated to form a task force.

Makarim emphasized that the team and the task force should be formed in six to 12 months after the regulation is ratified, so that violence in educational units can be handled immediately.

If there are reports of violence, the team and the task force must conduct handling and ensure the recovery of victims.

"Administrative sanctions are given to student perpetrators by considering educative sanctions and still paying attention to students' education rights," he emphasized.

Based on the 2022 National Assessment survey, 34.51 percent of students have the potential to experience sexual violence, 26.9 percent are likely to experience physical punishments, and 36.31 percent are likely to face bullying.

Moreover, based on the 2021 National Survey of Children and Adolescents Life Experiences of the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, 20 percent of boys and 25.4 percent of girls aged 13-17 admitted that they had experienced at least one type of violence in the last 12 months.

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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
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