Starting Point
HopeHelps as Women Movement
HopeHelps Network is a university-based network addressing sexual violence and gender-based discrimination in Indonesian universities. Initially formed at Universitas Indonesia, it 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.
HopeHelps operates on four core principles: voluntary participation, empowerment, prioritizing victim interests with comprehensive follow-up support, and a non-discriminatory stance. Committed to systemic change and genuine survivor support, HopeHelps Network intentionally functions independently from university structures unlike the University Sexual Violence Task Force mandated by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Ms. R and Ms. Esa as Women Activists
Ms. Esa and Ms. R joined HopeHelps since she has always been active in women's movement during their time in school. They believe that joining HopeHelps can enhance their knowledge and skills to better participate in women's empowerment.
Peace Journey
HopeHelps as Women Movement
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 organization 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, HopeHelps UGM 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 organization's commitment to independent advocacy ensures that survivors are heard and cared for, demonstrating the importance of victim-centered approaches in educational settings.
Success Stories
HopeHelps as Women Movement
Hopehelps UGM has significantly advanced women's participation in peace processes related to sexual violence and discrimination. A major challenge for women is the societal stigma surrounding victimization, which often hinders HopeHelps involvement in advocacy efforts. The organization has prioritized 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 organization, their membership turnover rate is quite high, making the knowledge transfer mechanisms central to HopeHelps' operation.
Among their achievements are training programs 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 Hopehelps UGM 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.
Ms. R and Ms. Esa as Women Activists
Being students, Ms. R and Ms. Esa must balance their time for study and be active in the organization. However, Ms. R and Ms. Esa are grateful to join HopeHelps since they always feel welcomed and accommodated in initiatives by HopeHelps or other organizations in the HopeHelps network.
Ms. R and Ms. Esa also ensure that they can access knowledge to better their activism. Both engage with more senior members of HopeHelps to ask for their insights every time they face certain challenges as women activists. Both Ms. R and Ms. Esa also document their knowledge (through archiving research and materials they obtain during their membership in Hopehelps) so they can refer to it if they find an issue while also ensuring that members preceding them will be able to access such knowledge.