Indonesian Army Removes Virginity Test For Female Recruits

One thing that every female recruit in the Indonesian army had to go through was the virginity test. This was deemed as disrespectful and immoral for a long time but the practice continued. Now after all these years, it was announced that the Army will do away with the tests.

This news was confirmed by the Indonesian army's chief of staff. It was said that women will no longer have to go through virginity tests to join the army. Human rights organizations have always opposed this practice and said that it was disrespectful to make a woman go through it. It can be traumatic for them.

It is called the "two-finger test” where the doctor will put two fingers inside a woman’s vagina. It is to check if the hymen is still intact or not. This examination was necessary for all women who wish to join the army. In case of failing this examination, the woman would not be allowed to further go through with the recruitment.

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Many Human Rights organizations have opposed this “two-finger test” and said that it was traumatic and cruel. This is not how women should be treated. This is discrimination between men and women as only the latter is subjected to these kinds of tests. 

A woman only has to go through the test to prove her moral value and nothing else. It is not necessary for recruitment. There is no scientific reason behind it. Even the World Health Organization said that the test has nothing to do with actual recruitment and assessment.

Finally, the army decided to end this practice. Indonesian army chief of staff Andika Perkasa confirmed the news and said that women will no longer be subjected to the virginity test before joining Army. Such examination will not be there anymore. This was done to maintain equality between men and women selection.

The practice has been removed from the Army for now, but there was no confirmation regarding the air force and navy.