INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH CAMPUS POLICIES AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITAS NEGERI SURABAYA

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pressing issue in higher education, threatening equity, safety, and institutional legitimacy. While student awareness of sexual violence has improved, uncertainty persists about how campus policies ensure accountability. This study examines Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Unesa) as a case study to analyze how evolving policies address GBV and strengthen institutional accountability. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was applied. In the quantitative phase, a survey of 176 students measured awareness of sexual violence risks, reporting procedures, and perceptions of institutional responsibility. The qualitative phase involved interviews with staff and task force members, a focus group with eight student volunteers, and document analysis, including Ministerial Regulation No. 55/2024 and Rector’s Regulation No. 11/2024. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results indicate that overall awareness was high, with 93.2% of students demonstrating strong recognition of violence categories. However, only 1.1% showed very good knowledge of reporting mechanisms, and trust in formal systems remained limited. Female students consistently reported higher awareness than males, yet both groups often relied on informal peer networks rather than institutional channels. Qualitative findings underscored the crucial but resource-constrained role of the campus task force (Satgas PPKS). This study concludes that regulatory reforms provide a stronger foundation for prevention and accountability, but their effectiveness depends on institutional trust, accessibility, and sustained support. By situating empirical findings within Indonesia’s evolving policy framework, the article contributes to global debates on building gender-responsive and zero-violence campuses.