Sexual violence is a pervasive issue that can occur in any setting, including educational institutions. In response to this pressing concern, the Student Council (DEMA) of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) at the State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga organized a public discussion “Eradicating Sexual Violence on Campus: Epistemology, Strategies, and Implementation” on Friday, June 24, 2022. The event featured Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women, Prof. Alimatul Qibtiyah, S.Ag., M.Si., Ph.D., and the Vice Chairman of Lakpesdam PWNU in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Nyai Khotimatul Husna.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Afdawaiza, M.Ag, the Dean of FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga, stated that sexual violence and harassment are like an iceberg, where only the tip is visible, while the roots run deep and remain largely concealed. He emphasized the importance of collaboration across all sectors of society in preventing and addressing cases of sexual violence, including active involvement from students. As members of the academic community, students are urged to raise awareness about the significance of identifying various forms of sexual harassment and to serve as positive role models for society.
In his remarks, Dr. Ahmad Salehudin, MA, the Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Cooperation, stated that sexual violence can occur anywhere, including in the world of education. According to him, this can be seen in the reports in mass media, electronic, and online media about violence and sexual harassment in the world of education.
Therefore, Salehudin believes that there is a need for a collective effort to combat sexual harassment within educational institutions. This can be accomplished by fostering a shift in mindsets, promoting a more equitable religious interpretation, and implementing a comprehensive prevention campaign that encompasses not only normative measures but also cultural strategies to uphold human dignity. He underscored that the campaign against sexual violence should not solely rely on human rights principles but should also be rooted in the preservation of human dignity.
Syihab Zaen, the Chairman of DEMA FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga, expressed his endorsement for the public discussion and his desire for subsequent actions to be taken following the discussion. He stated, “We hope that the concern for the issue of sexual harassment does not end with this public discussion, but that there will be follow-up actions.”
Prof. Alimatul Qibtiyah, Ph.D., defined violence as any form of action that coerces, degrades, or refers to sexual acts, whether physical or non-physical, that offend others. She also discussed the reasons behind the recent passage of the Sexual Violence Eradication Bill. Prof. Almatul explained that there were many polemics during the process of passing the bill, characterized by widespread dissemination of fake news, such as the legalization of adultery, the legalization of LGBT, damaging the unity of Indonesia, and damaging families.
According to Prof. Alim, the National Commission on Violence Against Women aims to increase efforts to prevent and address all forms of violence against women and protect women’s human rights. At UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, an Integrated Service Center (PLT) has been established, serving as the representative of the National Commission on Violence Against Women within higher education institutions.
Nyai Khotimatul Husna delivered a presentation on addressing sexual violence from an Islamic standpoint. She highlighted that Islam provides guidelines on ethical conduct and emphasizes the principles of justice and the dignity of all individuals. She stated that violent and sexually abusive behavior contradicts Islamic teachings and is inherently unjust.
Nyai Khotim, as she is commonly known, also presented concerning statistics regarding the prevalence of sexual harassment within the educational sphere. Records indicate that there have been 174 reported cases of sexual violence in higher education institutions, spanning 79 campuses across 29 cities. Perpetrators include lecturers, students, staff, residents, religious figures, and campus clinic doctors. Notably, 96% of the victims are female students. Moreover, 20% of the victims choose not to report the incidents, and 50% refrain from disclosing them due to feelings of shame, fear, and confusion. “Moreover, victims often do not report cases of sexual violence and harassment they have experienced due to the societal stigma attached to such cases,” said the former chairwoman of Fatayat NU DIY.