"We are committed to reducing all forms of violence, including (committed) to efforts to end harassment, exploitation, human trafficking, and all forms of violence and torture against children," head of the ministry's Character Strengthening Center, Rusprita Putri Utami, noted in a written statement here Monday.
She affirmed that the commitment has also been emphasized at the International Symposium on "Violence in Schools: Knowledge, Policies, and Practices" in Morocco on November 1-2, 2023.
According to Utami, eradicating violence in schools is in line with Indonesia's sustainable development goals of promoting a safe and inclusive community environment for sustainable development; providing equitable access for all; and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
She remarked that her ministry had made various efforts to prevent and handle violence in schools.
In terms of regulation, Utami stated that her ministry has the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister's Regulation (Permendikbudristek) Number 46 of 2023 on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Educational Units.
Since it came into effect in August 2023, the regulation has encouraged schools in Indonesia to form a Violence Prevention and Handling Team (TPPK).
"We are targeting all schools to have formed a TPPK by February 2024, or six months after the regulation was launched," she remarked.
The ministry has also issued a regulation for violence prevention and handling in higher education institutions, namely Permendikbudristek Number 30 of 2021 on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in the Higher Education Environment.
The issuance of the regulation was based on the commitment and hope to protect the academic community from all forms of sexual violence.
Utami noted that sexual violence is one of the priority issues that must be handled in education, in addition to bullying and intolerance. One of the preventive measures is the formation of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling (PPKS) Task Force.
"One of the Permendikbudristek Number 30 of 2021's mandates is the obligation for higher education institutions to form a PPKS Task Force. Last February, all state higher education institutions in Indonesia already formed a PPKS Task Force, followed by private higher education institutions," she said.
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Translator: Erlangga Bregas, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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