Discriminatory recruiment procedure, the “Virginity Test”, finally ended in the Indonesia Military

24-04-2022

Margaret-Elisabeth Mc Coy 

Indonesia Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence 

The Indonesia Military has finally put a stop to the “Virginity Tests” which were mandatory medical tests for women. In the announcement brought by the spokesperson Maj. Gen. Sudirma, announced that all three branches of the military have effectively ended the “Virginity Test” for the recruitment process for women.

In an attempt to stop this demining medical exam, General Andika Perkasa issued an order in June 2021 which informed commanders that female recruits only should be examined to show that they are okay to take part in the physical training of the military, as well as that fiancée, did no longer have to undergo the test when they were marrying a male officer. 

After the Human Rights Watch first exposed the “virginity tests” used by Indonesian Security Forces, in 2014, the government tried to stop the test in the military but failed to do so. Later in November 2104, the World Health Organisation announced the “Virginity Test”, also called “two-finger” testing, did not show any scientific legitimacy. This sort to say “medical test” is first and foremost there to see if a woman still hadn’t had sex yet.

The Indonesian Government should try and investigate the years of cases that have piled up and try to help the victims overcome the trauma and support the mistreatment of the military. 

Sources and further readings:

Harsono, A., 2022. Indonesia Military Finally Ends Abusive ‘Virginity Test’, Human Rights Watch. Retrieved from 23 of April. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/19/indonesia-military-finally-ends-abusive-virginity-test

Holliani Cahya,G.,2022. Indonesia army signals end to ‘virginity test’ for femal recruity, The Guardian. Retrieved from 23 April 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/06/indonesia-army-signals-end-to-virginity-test-for-female-recruits