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Victims of sexual abuse on campus seek justice, support on social media
Survivors of sexual abuse or their friends, most of whom are female university students, have stood up and used online platforms to share their stories with the public, hoping to find justice and support.
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Activists and members of the public protest in front of the House of Representatives complex in Central Jakarta last year to demand lawmakers pass a long-awaited bill on eradicating sexual violence against women. (JP/Anggie Angela)
T
he global #MeToo movement has swept through Indonesia’s higher education system, with victims of sexual abuse and harassment, one by one, speaking up and seeking help and justice over the past two years. However, a lack of safe spaces, both on campuses and in the legal system, has forced these young people to take the avenue most accessible to them: social media.
Over the past few weeks, social media has been dominated by discussions and stories of alleged sexual abuses on several campuses across Indonesia. Survivors of sexual abuse or their friends, most of whom are female university students, have stood up and used online platforms to share their stories with the public, hoping to find justice and support.
And although their decision to share their stories publicly could put them at risk, women’s right activists have said many survivors see it as their only way to find support and justice when universities and law enforcement bodies are often reluctant to take up their cases.
In response, several public webinars have been held to discuss the issue of sexual abuse on campuses. In one recent webinar, Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) chairwoman Asfinawati said awareness about sexual abuse issues and the cases that have been made public in recent years have encouraged other survivors to speak up.
“There are not many options for survivors. There are no laws and regulations, and our law enforcement bodies still have a lot to learn about how to handle cases of sexual abuse on campuses,” Asfinawati said on May 7.
The absence of regulations, the reluctance of rectors to take such cases seriously and unequal power relations, Asfinawati said, had made it difficult for survivors of sexual abuse on campus to seek justice and support, meaning that cases continue to occur with most going unreported.
The collaborative project #NamaBaikKampus (CampusReputation), initiated in 2019 by The Jakarta Post, Tirto.id and VICE Indonesia received reports of 174 cases of alleged sexual harassment. Of the 174 survivors who shared their stories, 87 said they never reported the harassment to authorities.
