Universities are necessitated to formulate guidelines for the prevention and handling of sexual violence as part of Ministerial Regulation No. 30 of 2021 on Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in the College Environment.
The regulation has 58 articles comprising several college obligations for preventing sexual violence through learning, strengthening governance, and enriching the culture of the student community, educators, and education personnel, the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry said in a statement here on Thursday.
Article 6 stipulates prevention through learning wherein university presidents necessitate students, educators, and education personnel to study the modules of sexual violence prevention and handling set by the ministry.
Meanwhile, regarding governance, universities are required to formulate policies that support the prevention and handling of sexual violence by establishing a task force and drawing directions.
In addition, the regulation limits meetings between students and educators and/or education personnel outside the campus operating hours and/or outside the campus area.
Moreover, colleges are required to provide sexual violence reporting services as well as train students, educators, education personnel, and campus residents in the efforts to handle sexual violence.
The regulation also urges universities to raise awareness in campuses on sexual violence and its prevention.
The ministry, through the regulation, advises to put up an information sign containing sexual violence complaint services and a warning that the campus does not tolerate sexual violence.
Campuses also need to provide suitable accommodation for people with disabilities and cooperate with relevant agencies against sexual violence.
Prevention is also conducted through the introduction of campus life, student organizations, and students’ informal communication networks.
Acting Head of the Cooperation and Public Relations Bureau at the ministry, Anang Ristanto, has noted that the regulation aligns with the purpose of education.
He cautioned that sexual violence can have a major negative bearing on the victim’s mental and physical state, thereby hindering the purpose of education, such as for developing one’s potential.
Source: Antara News