Virginity test draws criticism

The Jakarta Post, Palembang, South Sumatra, Tuesday August 20 2013


The Prabumulih administration’s plan to force high school girls in Prabumulih, South Sumatra, to take a virginity test has drawn criticism from all sides.

Deny Trisna, a guidance and counseling teacher at state senior high school SMA Negeri 3 Prabumulih, questioned the policy.

“If they find female students are no longer a virgin, what will they do?” Deny said, adding that schools should play an active role in preventing promiscuity among students.

Rumors abound that the administration’s plan to enforce virginity tests is in response to promiscuous behavior at Prabujaya Sports Square.

“Recently, the Palembang Police also foiled an attempt to traffic six young women. All of the perpetrators were released, however, because no actual transaction occurred,” said Deny.

The Woman Crisis Center (WCC) South Sumatra said the virginity test violated human rights because it was a private matter.

“It’s harassment against women. The government should consider the impact of such a test on students,” said the center’s chairwoman, Yeni Roslaini.

Ali Usman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Prabumulih-chapter said the council was against the plan because it would have a negative impact on society.

"According to Islamic teachings, it is forbidden to see other people's genitals," he said.



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Tha Jakarta Globe, August 30, 2013.


In a rare show of unity, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has joined the National Commission on Violence Against Women in the chorus condemning the proposed mandatory virginity test for high school girls.

“It is unethical and it is an act of disrespect to women,” he said on Wednesday. of the proposal made by South Sumatra’s Prabumulih education board head.

Suryadharma said the implementation of such tests could elicit negative consequences in the long term, not only in a way that would degrade the dignity of female students and women, but by potentially damaging them psychologically.

The tests, he said, could also impose a negative image on Indonesian education as a whole.

“The virginity test plans can be a red light for the education community. That is not the solution needed to control the morals of our pupils. To shape their morals they need attention, not only from educational institutions but also from their families,” he said.

“In addition, there is also no guarantee that after the virginity test a student would continue to preserve her virginity.”

The injustice is underscored by its gender discrimination, he said: “What about controlling the morals of male students? Will they be tested for their virginity too?”

As such, Suryadharma said he will strongly object to such plans, especially in Islamic educational institutions running under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

“I confirm that madrassas and Islamic boarding schools will not implement virginity tests,” he said.

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) had spoken earlier against Prabumulih’s plans.

“It degrades people and disparages their dignity. It also discriminates against women,” head of the commission’s justice and policy reformation sub-commission Kunthi Tridewiyanti said.

Kunthi added that the tests could also demotivate women from being more involved in their communities. The tests would be a form of sexual violence towards women and thus violate the constitution.

She also expressed remorse over cases of rape victims being expelled from their school. “Women should be protected so that they will not be victims of violence.”

Amidst the uproar, Prabumulih education board head H.M. Rasyid now denies proposing the tests, according to Tempo.com on Aug. 21.

“I would like to clarify that the education board has never proposed that program,” claiming that the controversy surrounding the issue was the result of a misunderstanding.



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