Returning Home Safely

FROM illuminated sidewalks to train cars monitored by smart cameras, Indonesia is weaving an ecosystem to prevent sexual violence in public spaces. The key now lies in Integration. 

On a January afternoon in 2026, a Transjakarta bus on corridor 1A was crowded with office workers heading home.

Amid the crush of passengers, a woman experienced harassment.

What happened next is worth noting: the conductor acted swiftly, other passengers stepped in to help, and the suspected perpetrator was detained on the spot. No one pretended not to see. 

This small incident carries a significant message. Safe public spaces do not emerge from a single policy, one camera, or one officer.

They grow from the interplay of many factors: facility designs without dark corners, trained transport staff, caring passengers, accessible reporting channels, and a legal system that favors victims. 

Data provides strong rationale for why public spaces are critical in prevention efforts.

The National Women’s Life Experience Survey (SPHPN) 2024 recorded that 17.0 percent of women aged 15–64 have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, which translates to nearly 2 out of 10 women.

The National Child and Adolescent Life Experience Survey (SNPHAR) 2024 indicated that almost 1 in 10 children aged 13–17 have faced such experiences. 

The good news is the prevalence trend continues to decline. The rate of violence against women dropped from 8.7 percent in 2021 to 6.6 percent in 2024.

The prevalence of violence against women in public spaces in the last 12 months also fell from 20.2 percent to 18 percent in the same period.

The National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025–2029 aims to further reduce this figure to 14.73 percent by 2029. 

Public transportation holds a special place in this landscape. A 2022 Coalition for Safe Public Spaces survey found that 23 percent of locations for sexual harassment in public areas occur in public transport and its associated facilities.

The Annual Report from Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence Against Women recorded 17,252 cases of violence against women in public spaces throughout 2025.

In the first half of 2026, KAI Commuter handled 40 harassment cases on KRL, with 17 being forwarded to the police. 

These numbers should be viewed through an optimistic lens. An increase in recorded cases often signifies a rise in victims' courage to report and operators' responsiveness in documenting incidents.

The RPJMN targets aim to boost the number of reported violence against women cases through SIMFONI PPA to between 42,133 and 44,048 by 2029.

High reporting rates are a sign of trust, not a setback. 

There is also a future dimension that needs to be anticipated now.

The RPJMN 2025–2029 targets a public transport user share reaching 60 percent by 2029, along with the development of mass transit in 20 cities.

This is good news for cities that aim to be more efficient and have lower emissions. However, as more people take buses and trains, the exposure to risks during peak hours, at terminals, and during start and end journeys to transit hubs will also increase.

Therefore, the sense of safety must grow alongside the number of passengers. In the same spirit, passenger safety should become one of the key success metrics of service.

Indonesia now has a relatively comprehensive legal framework. Law No. 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (TPKS) aims to prevent all forms of sexual violence, handle and rehabilitate victims, enforce the law, and ensure non-recurrence.

Article 79 requires both central and local governments to conduct prevention efforts in a swift, integrated, and holistic manner, including in public facilities. 

This mandate is further detailed. Public facilities must be constructed to be free from sexual violence, security standards for women and children must be elevated, integrated security systems established, environments and buildings must be designed with gender responsiveness, reporting service information must be made available, and public service providers must be equipped with prevention knowledge. 

Subsequent regulations have emerged relatively quickly. Presidential Regulations Nos. 9, 55, and 98 of 2024 govern education and training,

the Technical Implementation Unit for Women's and Children's Protection (UPTD PPA), and integrated services at the central level.

Government Regulation No. 27 of 2024 organizes coordination and monitoring.

In 2025, Government Regulation No. 29 on Victim Assistance Funds and Government Regulation No. 30 regarding the prevention, handling, protection, and recovery of victims will be issued.

Article 8 of Government Regulation 30/2025 clearly mentions the ministries responsible for public works, transportation, and local governments as implementers of prevention in public facilities. 

This explicit mention is crucial. It transforms the prevention of sexual violence from solely a "social sector" issue into a shared responsibility among road builders, transit managers, train operators, and ride-hailing app providers. 

The principle of equality is one of the four principles of the 2025–2029 PU Ministry Strategic Plan, encapsulated in the concept of infrastructure for all: accessible to all groups, ensuring safety, security, and comfort, equitably meeting basic needs, and environmentally friendly.