DEPOK, LITERASIHUKUM.COM — Universitas Indonesia (UI) is currently highlighting a case of alleged verbal sexual violence involving a dozen students in the Faculty of Law. The allegation emerged after screenshots of digital group conversations containing abusive and degrading language towards women circulated. Responding to the public outcry, the rectorate and the dean's office immediately took comprehensive investigative measures against the 16 students suspected of being actors in the group.

Director of Public Relations of Universitas Indonesia, Erwin Agustian Panigoro, confirmed that the tracing process is currently running intensively through the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Satgas PPKS) UI. This institutional investigation uses a victim-centered approach, while still prioritizing the principles of justice and guaranteeing the confidentiality of reporters. victim-centered approachThe university emphasizes that all forms of sexual violence, both offline and those manifested in digital interactions, constitute serious ethical violations that could potentially result in dismissal or drop out (DO).

At the student organization level, the Student Representative Body (BPM) of the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia, has responded quickly by imposing sanctions to revoke the active membership status for the perpetrators through Decree Number 007/SK/BPMFHUI/IV/2026. On the other hand, the sixteen students were reportedly presented in a closed forum at the Djokosoetono Auditorium to directly convey an apology to the victims. Nevertheless, student elements emphasize that a moral apology does not necessarily nullify the ongoing disciplinary enforcement process and academic sanctions.

Juridically, harassment in digital chat rooms is not merely a violation of decency norms, but has a clear legal basis for being prosecuted. Harassment-laden conversations through electronic media have the potential to be ensnared as a form of Electronic-Based Sexual Violence (KSBE) as strictly regulated in Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS).

In addition, the act clearly violates the provisions of Ministerial Regulation of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Number 30 of 2021 concerning PPKS in Higher Education Institutions. The Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia, as an institution, does not rule out the possibility of coordinating directly with the police if the findings from the PPKS Task Force indicate the fulfillment of elements of pure crime that exceed the jurisdiction of campus academic ethics. The public is now awaiting the firm execution of sanctions from the campus as a real form of eradicating the climate of sexual violence in the world of higher education.