Legal Literacy - Public transportation plays an important role in maintaining connectivity between communities in various regions. Behind its benefits, the risk of sexual harassment is still a serious problem that often goes unnoticed by many parties. Data from Komnas Perempuan shows that incidents of harassment on public transportation still dominate reports of violence in public spaces. This phenomenon indicates that passenger protection is not yet fully optimal, especially for vulnerable groups. Gender studies expert, Dr. Adriana Venny Aryani, argues that handling sexual harassment needs to prioritize a structured prevention approach. Cooperation between transportation service providers, law enforcement officials, the media, and civil society becomes an important element in creating a safe travel space.

What Is Sexual Harassment?

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) explains that sexual harassment is an unwanted act of a sexual nature that reasonably causes offense or humiliation to the victim. According to Prof. Dr. Chairul Huda, the form can be physical contact without consent or non-physical behavior such as obscene speech, vulgar gestures, to the distribution of unsolicited pornographic material. In line with this, Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes has stipulated that this act is categorized as a criminal act that must be handled firmly for the protection of victims. In crowded public spaces such as public transportation, sexual harassment often occurs suddenly and goes unnoticed by those around. Many victims choose to remain silent because of shame, fear of being judged as excessive, or worry that their testimony will be doubted. Therefore, it is important for the public to understand the various forms of sexual harassment in order to be able to recognize and respond to the situation wisely.

Recognize Forms of Sexual Harassment on Public Transportation

Understanding the various forms of sexual harassment on public transportation is very important so that the public can distinguish which actions are acceptable and which should be rejected. According to the 2024 Annual Notes of Komnas Perempuan, sexual harassment on public transportation modes still occupies a high position in the category of gender-based violence. One form of harassment that is often considered trivial is whistling or whistling sounds aimed at teasing passengers, even though this can trigger feelings of humiliation and make victims feel unsafe. Comments that highlight physical appearance, as explained by Prof. Dr. Siti Musdah Mulia, can objectify the body and degrade the dignity of individuals in public spaces. In addition to verbal harassment, taking photos or recording without permission with sexual intent is also a serious violation of privacy and often occurs in crowded public vehicles. Physical contact such as groping passengers' body parts without consent is also often carried out by perpetrators by taking advantage of the crowd. It is also not uncommon for perpetrators to deliberately rub their intimate body parts against the victim, under the pretext of crowded conditions on public vehicles. In some extreme cases, perpetrators even display obscene acts in front of the victim, which causes deep psychological pressure even if there is no direct contact. These various forms of harassment have a significant impact on the sense of security of public transportation users and can trigger prolonged trauma if not handled properly.

Strategies for Preventing Sexual Harassment on Public Transportation

The use of modern technology is one important strategy in preventing sexual harassment on public transportation. Based on records from Komnas Perempuan 2024, it was recorded that about a third of harassment incidents in public spaces took place in mass vehicles. Nur Iman Subono, an academic from FISIP Universitas Indonesia, argues that placing CCTV in vulnerable points can create a deterrent effect because it increases the risk of perpetrators being caught. The application of emergency buttons or panic buttons, as has begun to be implemented in the TransJakarta fleet since last year, also provides a fast reporting channel for passengers. In addition, some developers have provided digital applications that allow the public to report incidents along with supporting evidence in real-time. However, according to research from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Indonesia, the success of this technology still requires the readiness of officers in the field. Public transportation officers must be equipped with training so that they can respond to each report quickly and appropriately. In some countries with advanced transportation systems, the use of real-time tracking has been proven to significantly reduce similar cases. Therefore, the synergy of technology, policies, and personal data protection needs to be maintained so that public transportation truly becomes a safe space for all passengers.

Roles and Responsibilities of All Parties

The prevention of sexual harassment on public transportation cannot be separated from the involvement of various parties who synergize with each other. The government through the Ministry of Transportation and local governments has the authority to formulate regulations that favor passenger protection. According to Dr. Bivitri Susanti, an expert in constitutional law, policies will be effective if accompanied by regular monitoring and evaluation in the field. Public transportation operators also have a major responsibility in providing safe facilities and infrastructure and preparing officers who are sensitive to emergency situations. On the other hand, the public as service users are expected to dare to report and look after each other so that acts of harassment can be prevented as early as possible. Based on a survey by the Pulih Foundation in 2023, around 45% of harassment victims choose to remain silent because of fear and shame. For this reason, the role of user communities is very important in assisting victims while providing social pressure so that perpetrators do not feel safe. Mass media together with influencers contribute greatly to shaping public opinion and raising awareness of the importance of safe spaces on public transportation. With the support of educational news coverage, it is hoped that a social environment will be created that is more responsive and cares about passenger safety issues.

References

  1. Komnas Perempuan. (2025, June 24). Press Release of Komnas Perempuan Commemorating 2025 National Transportation Day. Komnas Perempuan. https://komnasperempuan.go.id/siaran-pers-detail/siaran-pers-komnas-perempuaan-memperingati-hari-angkutan-nasional-2025
  2. Asumsi.co. (2021, March 4). Together to eliminate sexual harassment on public transportation. Accessed July 4, 2025, from https://asumsi.co/post/58634/bersama-menghapuskan-pelecehan-seksual-di-transportasi-umum/
  3. RRI. (2025, January 02). Reasons for the increase in harassment on public transportation. RRI. Accessed July 4, 2025, from https://www.rri.co.id/lain-lain/1232233/alasan-meningkatnya-pelecehan-di-transportasi-umum