Towards a Safer Campus: Universitas Andalas Advances SDG 5 and SDG 16 Through PPKS Socialization Program

Padang, October 17, 2022 — Efforts to create a safe and violence-free higher education environment remain a key part of achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Universitas Andalas, through its Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Task Force (Satgas PPKS), conducted a policy socialization program aimed at strengthening awareness and preparedness among campus support staff.

The activity focused on the dissemination of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation No. 30 of 2021 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in Higher Education. The socialization was held at the Convention Hall of the Limau Manis Campus, Universitas Andalas, and was attended by security personnel and cleaning service staff across the university.

This initiative was driven by the understanding that the risk of sexual violence is not limited to students and academic staff but may affect all members of the campus community. Therefore, it is essential that all campus stakeholders, including support personnel, understand the prevention mechanisms and response procedures outlined in national regulations.

Through this program, the Satgas PPKS provided participants with comprehensive knowledge on various forms of sexual violence, reporting mechanisms, and appropriate response measures in handling potential cases within the campus environment. The activity also served to strengthen collective awareness in fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive academic atmosphere.

The involvement of security and cleaning service personnel is considered crucial, as they are positioned at the frontline of campus operations across various locations. With adequate understanding, they are expected to identify early signs of potential incidents and contribute actively to prevention and response efforts.

Through this socialization, Universitas Andalas reaffirmed its commitment to building a safe and inclusive campus ecosystem for all members of the academic community. This initiative represents a concrete contribution to the global SDG agenda, particularly in promoting gender equality, strengthening protection systems, preventing violence, and ensuring fair and just institutional governance.