Deputy Chairman of the MPR Explains that Students as Paralegals to Prevent Acts of Violence

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament Lestari Moerdijat said that the role of students as legal assistants (paralegals) is important to prevent and handle acts of violence in the university environment.

According to him, the prevention has been regulated by the Ministry of Education and Culture Decree Number 55/2024 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Higher Education Environment (PPKPT), in order to realize a safe educational environment for the next generation of the nation.

"The involvement of students as paralegals in the context of prevention and handling of violence in the university environment is a strategic step in addressing various cases of violence on campus," said Lestari, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, December 21.

He explained that a paralegal is someone who has legal knowledge and skills to assist lawyers or provide basic legal services to the public, and works under the supervision of a legal professional.

He assessed that many cases of violence in the university environment were not revealed because of various factors, such as, among others, the fear and discomfort of victims of violence to report.

In addition, according to him, victims often do not have confidence in other parties to discuss the cases of violence they have experienced.

He hopes that the presence of paralegals is not merely as volunteers in the implementation of Minister of Education and Culture Decree Number 55 of 2024 concerning PPKPT. More than that, he said that paralegals from among students are expected to be a resource capable of approaching victims and following up on existing cases with the right legal channels.

In addition, he said that being a paralegal in the campus environment requires mental readiness and strength. Because it is not impossible that the role of a paralegal who helps victims of violence can be threatened and intimidated by the perpetrators of violence.

For this reason, he asked all parties concerned to work together to create a safe and comfortable educational environment for the growth and development of every child of the nation, so that they can produce a generation of successors who are competitive so that they can face various challenges in the future.