Sexual Violence within College is voiced on International Women's Day

The students condemn sexual abuse within the educational environment on International
Women’s Day in Bandung City, (6/3/2019). /Photo by Rusa Siberia/.

Many cases of sexual harassment within the educational area become a problem which is
voiced by activists on International Women’s Day in Bandung City, West Java
(6/3/2019). This case is viral recently mentioning many male teachers as perpetrators.

According to student media from one of an Islamic university in Bandung tells that
related lecturers to threaten his woman student with a low grade when she refuses his
request to do a sexual activity.

The most viral one is the case investigated by Balariung Press, student media of Gadjah
Mada University, which it became a national issue since 4th November 2018. Unlike
matter from Bandung, it doesn’t involve the lecturer but student both the victim and
the perpetrator.

The matters above took place at the university level which ended in the same way, the
peaceful way without court. It is assessed by an activist, Vini Zulva, as indecision attitude
from college which doesn’t allow the suspected perpetrator to access the court.

“Again, so many procedures which burden the victim to the charge,” she said.

However, the pieces of evidence used more often turns to the victim by Electronic
Information and Transactions law (UU ITE) as well as defamation law. Baiq Nuril Maknun,
for instance, prisoned because of her account covering conversation with a headmaster
who talks nasty with her.

The defamation charge has become common to ensnare the victim to prison. As the data
collected by the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), from 245
cases of UU ITE from 2008 to 2018, 174 among them were defamation accusing.

Sexual violence bill

As a student in the Islamic State University Vini admits that sexual harassment could
happen everywhere including in the colleges. She means that the high level of education
may not determine people to realize about the right of other people’s bodies which
could not be objectivated.

She wishes to sexual violence bill that could be legalized soon in order to accomplish all
of the sexual violence in Indonesia. It is still in doubt, however. A criminology scholar,
Miranda Olga states that she wonders why that law is being refused.
Deputy of General Secretary of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Tengku Zulkarnain
argued that this bill would legitimate the criminalization against a husband from its wife.
On a debate showed on INews, he totally refuses its legalization.

The controversy also happened among citizens, for example, the argument claiming the
sexual violence as the pro-adultery showed on an online petition, which was held on
change.org since 27th January 2019. It reached 120 thousands petitions of 150 thousand
from its target, according to BBC Indonesia. Then the supporters of sexual violence
survivor replied it by online petition too, touching 116 thousand petitions.

This sexual violence, however, Vini adds that is simply one among many issues of
Indonesian women, including discrimination of wage of women labour, agrarian sectors,
and eviction of the remote city area.