Indonesian Army Ends ‘Two-Finger’ Virginity Tests On Female Recruits

The Indonesian army has ended its “two-finger” virginity test for female recruits, after they were branded “degrading, discriminatory, and traumatic.”

Andika Perkasa, the Indonesian army chief of staff, told reporters on Tuesday the controversial practice had ceased.

“Previously we looked at the abdomen, Instruments in detail with the examinations of the pelvis, vagina and cervix. Now, we have done away with these examinations, especially with regards to the hymen, whether it has been ruptured and the extent of the rupture,” he said.

He claimed recruitment tests will be focused on health issues such as color blindness, the heart and spine.

“The purpose of the examinations now is more focused on ensuring that the recruit will be able to lead a healthy life and will not encounter any medical issues leading to the loss of life,” he added.

The move was welcomed by human rights groups, who have long campaigned for the test to be scrapped.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) conducted investigations into the practice in 2014, 2015 and 2017, with experts labeling the tests abusive, unscientific and discriminatory