Reporter: Ahmad Hadid
Umah Ramah delivered a presentation on sexual violence in the Seminar on Building a Safe Space on Campus Environment held by the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Law (BEM FH; Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Fakultas Hukum) of Swadaya Gunung Jati University (UGJ; Universitas Gunung Jati) Cirebon on Thursday, January 30, 2025. The seminar took place in the UGJ auditorium.
Asih Widyowati, the founder of Umah Ramah, stated at the seminar titled “Strengthening Awareness and Action for a Campus Free of Sexual Violence” that we must comprehend sexual violence, its manifestations, who the perpetrators are, its impacts, and the appropriate ways to support people who encountered sexual violence.
“Any act that coerces someone into attacking someone’s sexuality is considered sexual violence. Not merely young, attractive women can encounter sexual violence. Indeed, it is possible for elders, kids, toddlers, and even males to encounter it,” she stated.
Sexual violence can take many different forms, not only serious ones like rape. Small, seemingly insignificant behaviors like catcalling and sexist jokes can have a significant impact on the development of more serious sexual violence.
Sexual abuse perpetrators are frequently portrayed as illiterate, impolite, or morally deficient, she continued. In actuality, those who are seen as familiar or even respectable—like peers, seniors, lecturers, religious teachers, and those who are close to them—like fathers, uncles, and siblings—also have the potential to become perpetrators.
Because sexual violence takes away a person’s bodily autonomy, its effects on individuals are quite severe. “Each person who encounters sexual violence experiences diverse effects, including dread, guilt, tension, and, in the worst cases, suicide,” she stated.
Due to the wide variety of sexual violence, there is no one best way to address it. Not referring to the individual who encounters it as a “victim” is one approach employed by Umah Ramah.
“In our work, Umah Ramah never uses the term “victim” to refer to individuals who encounter sexual violence since it will only make them feel weaker. We stand by them, listen to what they have to say, affirm the justice they want, and support all of their potential to get back up and recover,” she concluded.
The seminar was intended to increase awareness among all UGJ academics to collaboratively build a campus free from sexual violence, according to Rida, the organizing committee for the event.
“This seminar aims to provide suggestions and joint strategies that can be implemented to build a safe, inclusive, and sexual violence-free university,” she said.
Dozens of people from a variety of backgrounds attended the seminar, including students from several faculties at UGJ University, Umah Ramah activists, and Oemah Cirebon Inklusi (OCI).
Siti Farida Rosmawati, the elected Deputy Mayor of Cirebon, was also in attendance as the keynote speaker. In her presentation, she expressed her interest in the seminar theme raised by the committee. Because according to her, the issue of sexual violence is very actual and relevant to social life that is increasingly permissive of violence, especially violence against children and sexual violence.
“This seminar offers hope to strengthen collective awareness, especially in campuses, to anticipate the occurrence of sexual violence,” she said. []