MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — ‘Aisyiyah has raised concerns over sexual harassment in university settings, urging a stronger role for families and organizational cadres in addressing the issue.
Salmah Orbayinah, President of ‘Aisyiyah, spoke on the matter during an Idulfitri gathering held on Friday (17/4) at ‘Aisyiyah headquarters in Yogyakarta. She described recent incidents involving university communities as part of broader challenges emerging in the digital era.
According to Salmah, several cases have surfaced across campuses, ranging from inappropriate conversations in student communications groups to collective acts such as vulgar chants. These incidents, she said, reflect shifting behavioral patterns influenced by the rapid expansion of social media.
Strengthening Family Resilience
Moreover, Salmah emphasized that such cases cannot be separated from the evolving information landscape, which shapes how younger generations think and behave. As a result, she identified the situation as a serious challenge for ‘Aisyiyah, particularly in strengthening value-based resilience within families and among youth, including university students.
“This is a concern for all of us,” she said. “We must strengthen family resilience and create harmonious households so that our children, including students, develop strong faith and moral character.”
She argued that families play a crucial role in forming ethical foundations, especially in an era where digital exposure can easily influence attitudes and norms. Therefore, reinforcing values at the household level becomes essential.
Mobilizing Cadres for Grassroots Action
Furthermore, she noted that the post-Ramadan period offers a strategic opportunity to reinforce solidarity within the organization. By doing so, ‘Aisyiyah can expand its outreach and strengthen its mission of promoting enlightened and empowering social engagement.
Salmah concluded by stressing that collective efforts are necessary to prevent and respond to various forms of violence, including sexual harassment in academic environments. Strengthening solidarity, she said, remains central to achieving this goal.
“We must restore and reinforce solidarity in leading ‘Aisyiyah, while also strengthening outreach that enlightens and empowers society,” she said. (Suri)
