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earing the commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) demanding the virginity test for female recruits joining the Indonesian military was hugely disturbing for me. I believe many agree with me on this.

The commander stated that a women'€™s virginity was used to measure their morality as one of the traits a female recruit should have before joining the military force.

Using virginity to determine a person'€™s morality is degrading to women. It should also be understood that a woman'€™s virginity does nothing to add an advantage to the military force. Furthermore, it is humiliating for the world to know that Indonesia is doing such a thing.

As a woman myself, I believe morality goes beyond the women'€™s crotch. A woman'€™s virginity should not be the measure of her morality.

Opposing to Moeldoko'€™s claim, I think virginity is no way to determine a person'€™s moral compass.

How the government is debasing and invading personal space through the virginity test has become a huge concern. No woman should have to strip down naked and have another person'€™s fingers put inside of their vagina to ensure their virginity. This is degrading and painful at the same time.

There are cases where women lose their virginity due to sexual assault. Is such a woman immoral? In addition, it is discriminating and unfair for female applicants to go through such a painful and humiliating test, while males are not subject to it.

Knowing that virginity test is listed as a violation of human rights, this regulation should absolutely be completely abolished. I think virginity is none of the government'€™s business, especially as a determination factor of one'€™s morality.

Hasianti Deamita
Jakarta