UNNES Supports SDG 5 by Providing Lactation Rooms for a More Inclusive Campus

Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has strengthened its commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) by issuing Circular Letter No. B/28401/UN37/RT.02/2024 on Lactation Rooms. This policy highlights the university’s effort to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women, especially breastfeeding mothers among its academic community

The circular mandates that every faculty and work unit within UNNES provide comfortable and clean lactation rooms. These facilities are intended to support the health of both mothers and children, while promoting a campus culture that respects women’s reproductive rights and well-being

Key Provisions of the Policy:

1. Provision of Lactation Rooms – Each faculty and unit is expected to establish a dedicated, accessible space for breastfeeding and expressing milk.
2. Hygiene and Safety Standards – Lactation rooms must comply with the cleanliness and safety requirements outlined in the Indonesian Ministry of Health Regulation No. 15 of 2013 on Special Breastfeeding Facilities.
3. Awareness and Education – UNNES will conduct socialization campaigns to raise awareness of the availability and importance of lactation rooms for students and staff.
4. Institutional Support – The success of this policy relies on full support from faculty leaders and unit management in providing and maintaining the facilities

Vice Rector for Planning, General Affairs, Human Resources, and Finance, Prof. Heri Yanto, M.B.A., Ph.D., emphasized that the provision of lactation rooms is not only a matter of health but also a matter of gender equality. “By ensuring proper facilities for breastfeeding mothers, UNNES is actively reducing barriers for women in education and employment, while creating a campus that is more inclusive and equitable,” he said.

This initiative directly contributes to SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. By integrating gender-sensitive facilities into its policies, UNNES ensures that female students and staff are supported in balancing their academic, professional, and family responsibilities