The Indonesian Army has ended a long-standing but highly controversial practice of mandating virginity tests on women who apply to become cadets.
The move was welcomed by activists who have long campaigned against the test where doctors check the hymen of female recruits to try to determine their virginity.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had branded the practice as “systematic, abusive and cruel” however, until now the military had insisted the tests were important in determining recruits’ morality.
Army Chief of Staff, General Andika Perkasa told reporters that the tests no longer took place.
“There’s no more of that,” General Andika said.
He said the army selection process for male and female recruits must be equal.
In response to follow-up questions, Rear Admiral Julius Widjojono said the Navy conducted pregnancy tests on women applicants, but no specific virginity tests.
Air Vice Marshal Indan Gilang said female reproduction tests were undertaken to check for cysts or other complications that could impair recruits’ ability to serve but virginity tests “did not exist”.
Human rights groups welcomed the Army’s announcement.
Head of the National Commission on Violence Against Women, Andy Yentriyani, said there was never any need for the tests, while Indonesia Researcher at HRW, Andreas Harsono said ending them was the right thing to do.
Mr Harsono said HRW had spoken to more than 100 female military recruits who underwent the tests, one of whom said she was subjected to it as long ago as 1965.
Jakarta, 14 August 2021
