"(The abolition of virginity tests) has been effective (in effect). It has been applied to all dimensions, both land, sea and air."
The Head of the TNI Health Center (Kapuskes) Major General TNI Budiman confirmed that the virginity test for prospective female TNI soldiers had now been effectively abolished in three dimensions. This was conveyed by Budiman after the 2022 Health Technical Coordination Meeting (Rakornikes) at TNI Headquarters Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Wednesday (13/4).
"(The abolition of the virginity test) has been effective (in effect). It has been applied to all dimensions, both land, sea and air," said Budiman,
According to the direction of the TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa, Budiman said, women's virginity tests did not affect them during their education, training, and even assignments as TNI women.
"The TNI Commander has abolished this requirement in the technical manual for examining the bodies of prospective TNI soldiers," said Budiman.
According to him, the policy of the TNI Commander is not directly related to the surge in applicants for female soldiers. However, the policy of eliminating virginity tests is basically to provide principles of human rights (HAM) for women who happen to be no longer virgins, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Thus, these women still have the opportunity to become female TNI soldiers as long as they have good intellectual and physical abilities.
"It all has to do with the credibility involved and we have a series of tests to see this. It's in the technical guidelines (technical instructions)," Budiman said.
The policy of eliminating virginity tests in the recruitment of prospective TNI soldiers was made by General TNI Andika Perkasa when he became Army Chief of Staff (Kasad) in 2021. At that time, Andika said the test was considered no longer relevant to the goals of military education. (antara, republika)
