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.