Madrasas need to reinforce their means to prevent sexual violence from occurring. This is crucial so that students do not experience or become perpetrators of sexual violence.
This was stated by the Deputy Head of Islamic Junior High School (MTs) Miftahul Ulum, Ambari, after the Seminar on Reproductive Health and Prevention of Sexual Violence at the madrasa, located in Arjawinangun village, Cirebon Regency, West Java. On Friday, March 17, 2023.
Ambari said that he was concerned about the students regarding the issue of sexual violence. Previously, during a cell phone raid, he found out that one of the students was storing porn videos.
“This is a serious problem, containing bad potentials. It would be a shame if at their productive age, they are polluted by these improper things,” he said.
According to him, students in madrasas have actually been given a lesson on preventing sexual violence. In the curriculum and classes, the lesson is delivered to class VIII students. Ambari also took the initiative to convey some of the substances to class IX students on the sidelines of the sports lessons he is in charge of.
However, according to him, the lessons from the madrasa need to be reinforced by integrating with anti-sexual violence institutions. So that the students know the reality on how dangerous sexual violence is.
“This makes a form of synergy between MTs Miftahul Ulum and anti-sexual violence institutions to develop students’ understanding of sexual violence,” he continued.
The founder of Umah Ramah Asih Widiyowati said that many people still mistakenly think of sexual violence as just rape.
“It’s not just rape, it includes acts like breast grabbing, or butt grabbing. Sexual violence are all form of acts towards someone’s sexuality that make them uncomfortable,” she said, in the seminar which was attended by hundreds of female and male students of class VII to IX.
Sexual violence includes recording or spreading videos or sounds of someone’s sexual activities.
In other cases, sexual violence occurred in a form of catcalling. Such as shouting sexist remarks towards the opposite sex, whistling, calling, yelling with the aim to offend/degrade someone’s sexuality, or glancing sexually at someone’s body to intimidate them.
“Sexual violence also often happens to children. Usually in the form of grooming, with the lure by giving gifts to them. At school, the perpetrator could be a teacher or a merchant who is around the school,” she continued.
Romantic relationships between students also contain the potential for sexual violence. When students start dating, the risk of sexual violence increases. They can be forced by their partners to engage in sexual activities. The coercion is very likely to become sexual violence.
“Sexual violence against children can also take the form of child sexual exploitation. Perpetrators sell children for prostitutions,” she said.
In the seminar, Asih also insisted not to be afraid or ashamed to voice and report acts of sexual violence.[]
Reporter: Ahmad Hadid
Editor: Abdul Rosyidi
Translator: Napol Riel