Starting Point
Ms. Esa and Ms. R joined HopeHelps Network, a university-based network addressing sexual violence and gender-based discrimination in Indonesian universities. They joined the network as they had always been active in the women's movement during their time in school. They believe that joining HopeHelps can enhance their knowledge and skills, enabling them to better participate in women's empowerment.
The HopeHelps network was initially formed at Universitas Indonesia and has expanded to 17 campuses nationwide. The local chapter at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) was established two years ago in response to the high-profile Agni case, which revealed significant deficiencies in university administrations' handling of such conflicts. This led to the need for an independent body advocating for transparent and effective responses.
The organisation operates on four core principles: voluntary participation, empowerment, prioritising victim interests with comprehensive follow-up support, and a non-discriminatory stance. Committed to systemic change and genuine survivor support, it intentionally functions independently of university structures, unlike the University Sexual Violence Task Force, which is mandated by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Peace Journey
HopeHelps UGM is dedicated to advocating for victim-oriented handling of sexual violence and gender-based discrimination. Following high-profile incidents like the Agni case, the organisation focuses on creating safer campus environments by providing Psychological First Aid (PFA) and collaborating with psychologists from various universities to offer survivors holistic support. Additionally, they conduct volunteer training to empower students to engage in these critical issues.
Despite challenges such as securing funding and maintaining volunteer engagement, it addresses systemic shortcomings in academic institutions' handling of sexual violence. The emotional toll on volunteers, who often deal with secondary trauma, remains a concern. Nonetheless, the organisation's commitment to independent advocacy ensures that survivors are heard and cared for, demonstrating the importance of victim-centred approaches in educational settings.
Success Stories
Hopehelps UGM has significantly advanced women's participation in peace processes related to sexual violence and discrimination. A significant challenge for women is the societal stigma surrounding victimisation, which often hinders HopeHelps' involvement in advocacy efforts. The organisation has prioritised women's engagement through various support structures, including a National Board of Advisors and a comprehensive archiving system to document experiences to address such challenges. As a student-based organisation, its membership turnover rate is relatively high, making the knowledge transfer mechanisms central to HopeHelps' operation.
Among their achievements are training programmes designed to empower women in advocacy roles. Participants have reported increased confidence in addressing sexual violence issues, underscoring education's role in sustaining their involvement. Personal stories from members, particularly those in technical fields, illustrate the transformative impact of these initiatives. For instance, a female engineering student noted that her participation in the organisation enhanced her understanding of gender issues and inspired her to seek leadership roles in her academic community. These experiences highlight the necessity of inclusive environments where diverse gender identities feel safe and empowered to contribute to peace advocacy.
As students, Ms R and Ms Esa must balance their time for study and being active in the organisation. However, they are grateful to join the organisation because they always feel welcomed and accommodated in its initiatives or network.
Ms. R and Ms. Esa also ensure they can access knowledge to improve their activism. They engage with more senior members to ask for their insights whenever they face particular challenges as women activists. They also document their knowledge (by archiving research and materials they obtain during their membership) so they can refer to it if they encounter an issue. This ensures that members preceding them will be able to access such knowledge.