UNISSULA Policy of Non-Discrimination Against Women

Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) is committed to maintaining an academic and working environment in which women are treated fairly, protected from discrimination, and able to participate fully in university life.

This commitment is formally reflected in the Guidelines for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence at Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, established through Rector Decision No. 1917/E/SA/IV/2022.

The policy provides an institutional framework for gender fairness, non-discrimination, equality, protection, assistance, and recovery across the university community.

Formal Institutional Policy

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence were established as a university-wide reference for preventing, monitoring, evaluating, and handling sexual violence at UNISSULA. The document is intended for use by the entire university community.

The policy applies to university activities related to education, research, community service, and other activities under UNISSULA’s responsibility. It also establishes mechanisms for reporting, emergency response, referral, protection, assistance, and recovery.

Explicit Principle of Non-Discrimination

A central principle of the policy is non-discrimination.

The Guidelines explicitly state that measures for the prevention and handling of sexual violence must be sensitive to the diversity of individuals’ backgrounds and must be carried out without discrimination based on:

• sex;
• gender identity;
• sexual orientation;
• age;
• ethnicity;
• race;
• religion;
• education;
• social group;
• social class; and
• disability.

This explicit non-discrimination principle provides a clear institutional basis for ensuring that women are not treated less favourably because of their sex or gender.

Gender-Fair Principle

The policy also requires a gender-fair approach.

UNISSULA recognises that gender constructions can make certain groups more vulnerable than others. The Guidelines therefore require prevention and handling processes to understand gender-related vulnerability, enable vulnerable groups to express their concerns, and ensure that their rights are protected and fulfilled.

This principle strengthens the university’s commitment not only to avoiding discrimination but also to addressing conditions that may create unequal experiences for women.

Equal Treatment and Protection of Rights

The Guidelines also establish the principle of equality within the handling process.

They state that prevention and response should be based on respect for individuals, protection of their rights, and avoidance of judgement, coercion, or discriminatory treatment.

Women who experience sexual violence or gender-related harm therefore have access to institutional mechanisms designed to protect their dignity, safety, rights, and ability to continue participating in university life.

University-Wide Coverage

The policy has broad institutional coverage.

It applies to:

• students;
• lecturers;
• teaching assistants and tutors;
• researchers and research assistants;
• educational staff;
• non-academic staff;
• security personnel;
• cleaning personnel;
• interns;
• contract workers; and
• visitors within the UNISSULA environment.

This demonstrates that the university’s non-discrimination and protection framework is not confined to a single faculty or group but applies across the university community.

Reporting, Protection and Assistance Mechanisms

UNISSULA provides institutional mechanisms for handling cases through the UNISSULA Center (UC).

The UC is responsible for providing a safe space for reporting, documenting and verifying cases, assessing survivors’ needs, coordinating follow-up, and ensuring access to protection and recovery services.

Available forms of support include:

• medical assistance;
• psychological and psychosocial support;
• academic assistance;
• legal assistance;
• emergency support;
• protection and safety measures;
• recovery services; and
• referral to relevant external service providers where necessary.

These provisions help ensure that women who experience discrimination, violence, or related harm are able to access appropriate institutional support.

Protection of Survivors’ Rights

The policy establishes specific rights for survivors.

These include the right to prompt and free handling, participation in determining the mechanism for resolving a case, legal assistance, psychological support, health services, and special facilities where required.

Survivors are also entitled to protection from threats, pressure, stigma, further violence, and adverse treatment outside established procedures. Their identity and personal information must remain confidential.

The Guidelines further provide for recovery support, including free health, psychological, legal, and academic assistance where required.

Gender Mainstreaming in Teaching and Student Affairs

UNISSULA’s approach extends beyond responding to individual cases.

The policy includes preventive measures within teaching and student affairs, including regular awareness activities and continuous integration of gender mainstreaming and the elimination of sexual violence into teaching, student affairs, and the governance of academic units.

This shows that gender equality is intended to be incorporated into routine institutional practice rather than addressed only when incidents occur.

Gender Mainstreaming in Research, Community Service and Cooperation

The Guidelines also encourage the development of studies on gender-related issues and require continued gender mainstreaming in research, community service, cooperation, and their governance.

UNISSULA therefore extends its gender-related commitments into the university’s wider academic and social responsibilities.

Prevention through Institutional Governance

The policy also addresses institutional governance.

Preventive measures include supporting programmes on the prevention and elimination of sexual violence, allocating institutional resources, conducting regular socialisation for university members, incorporating anti-sexual-violence provisions into relevant employment and governance arrangements, and ensuring continuous gender mainstreaming in university management and organisational affairs.

These measures strengthen the institutional environment in which women study, work, conduct research, and participate in university activities.

Supporting Women’s Participation

The university recognises that discrimination and gender-based violence can negatively affect women’s academic progress, employment, wellbeing, and participation.

For this reason, the policy provides support mechanisms designed to prevent women from being disadvantaged because of gender-related harm.

Academic assistance may include counselling, safe learning arrangements, academic adjustments, assistance with assignments and examinations, and other measures needed to help affected students continue their studies.

Institutional Commitment

Through Rector Decision No. 1917/E/SA/IV/2022 and the accompanying Guidelines for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence, UNISSULA has established an institutional framework that explicitly incorporates:

• non-discrimination based on sex and gender;
• gender fairness;
• equality;
• protection of rights;
• reporting and complaint mechanisms;
• medical, psychological, legal, and academic support;
• gender mainstreaming; and
• institutional prevention measures.

The policy applies across the university and supports women’s ability to study, work, conduct research, participate in university activities, and pursue academic and professional development without discriminatory treatment.

This institutional framework demonstrates UNISSULA’s commitment to creating a safe, fair, and inclusive university environment for women.