Semarang – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), continues to strengthen its commitment to creating an inclusive, safe, and supportive campus environment through a range of peer mentoring, sexual violence prevention education, and mental health support programs. Throughout 2025, these initiatives have formed part of the faculty’s efforts to provide support for students, particularly those from vulnerable or underrepresented groups, while fostering a healthy, safe, and discrimination-free learning environment.
As part of its educational initiatives, the Annisa Division of the Forum Mahasiswa Islam (FMI) FMIPA UNNES, a student organization focusing on Islamic values and spirituality, released a video podcast on the prevention of violence against women on 10 May 2025. The podcast discussed various forms of gender-based violence, the importance of creating a safe campus environment, and collective efforts to prevent violence against women. Through this initiative, students gained a better understanding of the importance of respecting women’s rights, recognizing both sexual and non-sexual violence, and fostering a culture of mutual respect while encouraging individuals to report incidents of violence or discrimination.
As part of UNNES’s institutional commitment to maintaining a safe campus environment, students, lecturers, administrative staff, and all members of the university community can report incidents of sexual violence to the UNNES Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Violence (Satgas PPK UNNES). The Task Force provides protection for victims and reporters while ensuring that every report is handled in accordance with university regulations. Through the educational activities conducted by FMIPA, information regarding reporting mechanisms, victim protection, and complaint procedures has been widely disseminated to ensure that members of the academic community understand their rights and the available support services.
In addition, the Department of Sexual Violence Assistance and Mental Health of the FMIPA UNNES Student Executive Board (BEM FMIPA UNNES) has actively developed peer mentoring and peer support programs. On 12 April 2025, the department organized a Peer Counselor Training under the theme “Caring, Responsive, and Professional: Strengthening Capacity for Handling Sexual Violence and Mental Health Cases.” The training equipped students with the skills to become peer counselors capable of providing empathetic support, responding appropriately, and delivering professional initial assistance before referring individuals to qualified support services when necessary. This program represents a concrete example of FMIPA UNNES providing mentoring and peer support opportunities for students, particularly those experiencing challenges related to sexual violence or mental health.
The faculty’s commitment has also been demonstrated through a series of mental health awareness campaigns. On 11 September 2025, the Department of Sexual Violence Assistance and Mental Health organized MIPA ACT 2 to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day under the theme “Creating Hope Through Action.” The campaign encouraged students to become more aware of mental health issues, strengthen social support, and promote suicide prevention through collective care and compassion. Subsequently, on 10 October 2025, in celebration of World Mental Health Day, the department conducted MIPA ACT 3, encouraging the academic community to increase awareness of mental health and contribute to creating a more supportive campus environment for all students.
Mental health support at FMIPA UNNES is further reinforced through the establishment of the UNNES Mental Health Service Task Force, formed under Rector’s Decree No. T/116/UN37/HK.02/2025 concerning the UNNES Mental Health Service Task Force for 2025. The Task Force strengthens the university’s counseling, referral, and psychological support system for students, lecturers, and staff while complementing the peer mentoring and peer support programs implemented by the faculty and student organizations.
Through these integrated initiatives, FMIPA UNNES provides mentoring, counseling, and peer support programs to assist students, including those from underrepresented groups and those facing challenges related to mental health and sexual violence. Collaboration among the faculty, student organizations, and university task forces reflects a shared commitment to building an inclusive, safe, supportive, and discrimination-free academic environment.
These initiatives contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by providing inclusive mentoring, counseling, and peer support programs for students, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through strengthened mental health services and suicide prevention campaigns, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through education on preventing violence against women and protecting survivors of sexual violence, and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by strengthening reporting mechanisms and institutional protection for victims and reporters of violence within higher education institutions.
