Religious Affairs Minister Supports Regulation on Preventing Sexual Violence

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas voiced support for Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministerial Regulation Number 30 of 2021 on Preventing and Handling Sexual Violence as a form of commitment to developing religious moderation.

"This is also a commitment to continue to develop religious moderation as a solution to the current religious and national problems," Qoumas noted here on Saturday.

The minister also expressed his support to Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Makariem, saying that the Religious Affairs Ministry fully supported the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry.

The minister elaborated that religious moderation is a perspective on religious outlooks and practices in life, by actualizing the essence of religious teachings that protect human dignity and foster public benefit based on fair, balanced principles and obeying the Constitution, as is the nation's agreement.

He emphasized that protecting the academic community from sexual violence falls under the helm of religious moderation. It is a form of actualization of the religious essence of protecting human dignity.

"Hence, there is no reason to not guarantee and honor the protection of human beings, regardless of their sex, religion, race, ethnicity, class, or other background, from actions that dishonor a human being at any place, including in the university environment," the minister stated.

Qoumas noted that his administration was working along with stakeholders pertaining to the stipulation of the Decree of the Director General of Islamic Education Number 5494 of 2019 on Guidelines for preventing and overcoming Sexual Violence in Islamic Religious Universities.

The minister deemed the measure as a form of commitment to making the higher education environment safe from sexual violence, under the programs initiated and managed by the Religious Affairs Ministry.

Qoumas believes that Ministerial Regulation Number 30 of 2021 of the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry is a revolutionary step that offers breakthrough in resolving cases of sexual violence in universities.

"Personally, I, as the religious affairs minister, certainly hope that with this regulation, those in the world of tertiary education can truly become role models and ambassadors for anti-violence, both sexual and other forms of violence. Thus, their campus environment would become free from violence," he stated.

Read: Nadiem Makarim Deems Sexual Violence Cases at Campus Pandemic

ANTARA