Don't Be As Simple As Cases Of Sexual Violence

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - Inspector General of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Chatarina Muliana reminded not to underestimate sexual violence that can occur anywhere, including in the work environment and campuses because it will have many negative impacts on victims.

"The impact of violence, especially sexual violence, cannot be ignored just like that, because for victims, with feelings of humiliation, intimidation, shame, fear, and causing lost work motivation," he said at the Korpri's 51st Anniversary Seminar which was followed online in Jakarta, Monday, December 5.

He also said sexual violence can make the victim experience symptoms of depression and make him feel hopeless about the future.

"We are also working on several cases, some even don't want to go to college anymore. Imagine his future could break up and could no longer help his family," he said.

As for the work environment, he said, cases of sexual violence will reduce work productivity due to an unhealthy and unfavorable work environment.

"There is a sense of fear and a bad image of the institution, this is the basis why it is important not to be able to ignore sexual violence in our work environment," he said.

He stated that based on Article 5 of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 30 of 2021, there are 21 forms of sexual violence ranging from conveying speech that discriminates or insults physical appearance, conveying remarks that contain seduction, peeking or deliberately seeing victims who are carrying out personal activities.

Then, giving a sexual punishment or sanction, touching, stroking, touching, holding, hugging, kissing and/or wiping body parts on the victim's body without consent, to rape or trying to rape.

Meanwhile, according to Law No. 12 of 2021, there are 19 forms of sexual violence including physical and unphysical harassment, coercion of contraception, electronic-based sexual violence, rape, obscene acts, sexual intercourse and pornography, coercion of prostitution, and sexual violence within the scope of households.

When they find out someone has sexual violence, he said, people around him must be able to listen to the victim's story seriously without intimidating, providing support, and reporting it to the authorities.

In the ministry and institution environment, according to him, there are several efforts to handle cases of sexual violence, namely the criminal process based on the Law on the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS Law), the Criminal Code, and the Pornography Law. Then, it can also be given administrative sanctions.

"We hope that there will be leadership policies that encourage the prevention of violence, form a response team by involving the Task Force, create SOPs regarding prevention and handling, and of course the SOP should be socialized to all of our employee teams," said Chatarina Muliana.