The Indonesian army's chief of staff has said that women wanting to join the troops will no longer be subjected to virginity tests.

Human rights organisations have long denounced the practice, calling it humiliating and traumatic.&nbsp;

The procedure is known in Indonesia as the "two-finger test," since doctors would put two fingers into the woman's vagina during the examination to see if the hymen was still intact.

Those who were not deemed virgins were not eligible for recruitment.&nbsp;

"Two-finger tests" was systematic, abusive and cruel, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which conducted investigations in 2014 into the practice and in 2017 renewed calls for it to end.

The military previously stated that the exams were crucial in assessing the morals of recruits.

They have "no scientific value," according to the World Health Organization, and the presence of a hymen is not a reliable sign on intercourse.

On Tuesday, Indonesian army chief of staff Andika Perkasa informed reporters that such exams were no longer conducted in the army.&nbsp;

"Whether the hymen was ruptured or partially ruptured was part of the examination ... now there`s no more of that," he said, in comments that were confirmed by a military spokesman.

Andika last week said that the army selection process for male and female recruits must be equal.

Rights activists welcomed the move, reiterating that such tests were a form of violence against women.&nbsp;

It's unclear if the restriction has been lifted for Indonesia's navy and air force as well.

In 2015, the national police force abolished the policy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indonesian army's chief of staff has said that women wanting to join the troops will no longer be subjected to virginity tests. Human rights organisations have long denounced the practice, calling it humiliating and traumatic.

The Indonesian army's chief of staff has said that women wanting to join the troops will no longer be subjected to virginity tests. Human rights organisations have long denounced the practice, calling it humiliating and traumatic. The procedure is known in Indonesia as the "two-finger test," since doctors would put two fingers into the woman's vagina during the examination to see if the hymen was still intact. Those who were not deemed virgins were not eligible for recruitment. "Two-finger tests" was systematic, abusive and cruel, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which conducted investigations in 2014 into the practice and in 2017 renewed calls for it to end. The military previously stated that the exams were crucial in assessing the morals of recruits. They have "no scientific value," according to the World Health Organization, and the presence of a hymen is not a reliable sign on intercourse. On Tuesday, Indonesian army chief of staff Andika Perkasa informed reporters that such exams were no longer conducted in the army. "Whether the hymen was ruptured or partially ruptured was part of the examination ... now there`s no more of that," he said, in comments that were confirmed by a military spokesman. Andika last week said that the army selection process for male and female recruits must be equal. Rights activists welcomed the move, reiterating that such tests were a form of violence against women. It's unclear if the restriction has been lifted for Indonesia's navy and air force as well. In 2015, the national police force abolished the policy. (With inputs from agencies)

Virginity check for female recruits: Indonesian army ends the abusive two-finger test

In a historic decision, the Lahore High Court has declared virginity tests on&nbsp;sexual assault survivors to be illegal and announced that the practice has "no medical basis" and "offends the personal dignity of the female victim and therefore is against the right to life and right to dignity."

Till now, all sexual assault survivors are put through a virginity test, which is conducted by&nbsp;inspecting the hymen or inserting two fingers into the vagina. This practice, apparently, determines whether or not a woman is a virgin.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/start-reconstruction-of-vandalised-hindu-temple-within-two-weeks-pakistan-supreme-court-354580" hreflang="en">Start reconstruction of vandalised Hindu temple within two weeks: Pakistan Supreme Court</a>

This test is a common practice in a few countries around the globe, especially Pakistan where the test is conducted to assess a girl's "honor or virtue", according to World Health Organization.

However, in&nbsp;a landmark ruling, the Lahore High Court declared this practice to be illegal. The concern&nbsp;was raised in two petitions in June 2020 by&nbsp;a group of women's rights activists, academics, journalists, advocates and a member of the National Assembly who requested a ban on this test claiming it to be 'unscientific, intrusive, demeaning and a source of retraumatization'.

Declaring it to be discriminatory against women, Justice Ayesha Malik said there was "no forensic value in cases of sexual violence" and asked the concerned government officials to issue directives to ensure a written an oral guideline is passed immediately to put a permanent ban on these virginity tests.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-hazara-families-refuse-to-bury-mach-massacre-victims-354545" hreflang="en">Pakistani Hazara families refuse to bury Mach massacre victims</a>

"Virginity testing is highly invasive, having no scientific or medical requirement, yet carried out in the name of medical protocols in sexual violence cases. It is a humiliating practice, which is used to cast suspicion on the victim, as opposed to focusing on the accused and the incident of sexual violence," Malik said in the official court documents.

Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari took to Twitter to thank Justice malik for her decision and said the decision "is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors."

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Justice Ayesha Malik's decision today is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors.
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The petitioners and women rights groups applauded the decision by the Lahore High Court and emphasised the impact this decision would have on women's rights in general too. "This is so important because so much emphasis has been placed in our culture as the hymen being signifier of the purity of a woman," said Sahar Bandial, an advocate of the Lahore High Court and one of the lawyers who filed the petition. "There is an inference that the woman is of easy virtue and likely to have consented to sexual activity."

In a historic decision, the Lahore High Court has declared virginity tests on sexual assault survivors to be illegal and announced that the practice has "no medical basis" and "offends the personal dignity of the female victim and therefore is against the right to life and right to dignity.

In a historic decision, the Lahore High Court has declared virginity tests on sexual assault survivors to be illegal and announced that the practice has "no medical basis" and "offends the personal dignity of the female victim and therefore is against the right to life and right to dignity." Till now, all sexual assault survivors are put through a virginity test, which is conducted by inspecting the hymen or inserting two fingers into the vagina. This practice, apparently, determines whether or not a woman is a virgin. Also read| Start reconstruction of vandalised Hindu temple within two weeks: Pakistan Supreme Court This test is a common practice in a few countries around the globe, especially Pakistan where the test is conducted to assess a girl's "honor or virtue", according to World Health Organization. However, in a landmark ruling, the Lahore High Court declared this practice to be illegal. The concern was raised in two petitions in June 2020 by a group of women's rights activists, academics, journalists, advocates and a member of the National Assembly who requested a ban on this test claiming it to be 'unscientific, intrusive, demeaning and a source of retraumatization'. Declaring it to be discriminatory against women, Justice Ayesha Malik said there was "no forensic value in cases of sexual violence" and asked the concerned government officials to issue directives to ensure a written an oral guideline is passed immediately to put a permanent ban on these virginity tests. Also read| Pakistani Hazara families refuse to bury Mach massacre victims "Virginity testing is highly invasive, having no scientific or medical requirement, yet carried out in the name of medical protocols in sexual violence cases. It is a humiliating practice, which is used to cast suspicion on the victim, as opposed to focusing on the accused and the incident of sexual violence," Malik said in the official court documents. Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari took to Twitter to thank Justice malik for her decision and said the decision "is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors." Justice Ayesha Malik's decision today is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors. — Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) January 4, 2021 × The petitioners and women rights groups applauded the decision by the Lahore High Court and emphasised the impact this decision would have on women's rights in general too. "This is so important because so much emphasis has been placed in our culture as the hymen being signifier of the purity of a woman," said Sahar Bandial, an advocate of the Lahore High Court and one of the lawyers who filed the petition. "There is an inference that the woman is of easy virtue and likely to have consented to sexual activity."

Pakistan bans infamous 'virginity test' on sexual assault survivors

The practice is banned in countries such as Bangladesh, but legal in others such as the United States.

Your Story: Questions raised over French plan to ban virginity tests

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Virginity check for female recruits: Indonesian army ends the abusive two-finger test

Pakistan bans infamous 'virginity test' on sexual assault survivors

Your Story: Questions raised over French plan to ban virginity tests