Assistance for victims of sexual violence from an Islamic and gender perspective

Abstract

Sexual violence remains a pervasive issue, particularly within university environments, where institutional responses often lack cultural and spiritual sensitivity. This study aims to (1) map the forms and modes of sexual violence occurring on campus and (2) examine survivor assistance strategies developed through Islamic and gender-based perspectives. Using a qualitative multi-case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and institutional document analysis, involving survivors and members of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force (PPKS) at A University in East Java. Thematic narrative analysis revealed six key forms of sexual violence: digital harassment, psychological abuse, verbal misconduct, physical assault, gender-based discrimination, and financial exploitation. In response, the campus implemented a holistic assistance model integrating trauma-informed, gender-sensitive counseling with Islamic spiritual care. This combined approach affirms survivor agency while offering religiously grounded resilience, making it a culturally contextualized model for addressing sexual violence in Indonesian higher education.