Indonesia Urged to Halt Invasive 'Two Finger' Virginity Test for Female Military Applicants

Women applicants in the Indonesian army are required to pass the 'two-finger' virginity test, a practise that has been widely condemned by various human rights groups.

During the test, physicians place two fingers inside the applicant to check whether the hymen is intact.

In a recent medical conference in Bali, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) have now asked attending military physicians to urge the Indonesian President Joko Widodo to stop the practise.

Women's rights advocacy director of HRW, Nisha Varia said, "The Indonesian armed forces should recognise that harmful and humiliating 'virginity tests' on women recruits does nothing to strengthen national security," she said.

"President Joko Widodo should set the military straight and immediately abolish the requirement and prevent all military hospitals from administering it."

Even as the issue generated considerable outrage from many quarters, the Indonesian military continues to defend the practise.

Military spokesperson Faud Basya said the test was important to get the best applicants both mentally and physically.

Basya said, "If a person has low morals, then she cannot join the military. Because if she joins the military it will damage the military, which must handle a huge duty,"

"They are responsible for the country's sovereignty, the unity of the territory, the safety of the nation."

During the test, if the hymen is found to be broken, the women would be asked to offer an explanation.

"If it is due to an accident we can still consider it but if it's due to another reason, well, we cannot accept her," Basya told in an interview to Fairfax.