A Pakistani court has outlawed the practice of subjecting rape survivors to a virginity test in an unprecedented sentence.
The Lahore High Court ruled on Monday that the proof of virginity has no legal basis and “offends the personal dignity of the woman victim.”
Judging Ayesha Malik, Judge Ayesha Malik said: “Virginity tests are highly invasive, have no scientific or medical requirements, but are carried out on behalf of medical protocols in cases of sexual violence.
“It is a humiliating practice, which is used to suspect the victim, rather than focusing on the accused and the incident of sexual violence.”
In a 2018 report, the UN said virginity tests, a medically dubious internal examination of a woman’s hymen, are still being conducted in 20 countries and can be conducted with or without consent in cases of rape or when a woman is accused of a “morality.” ”Crime such as premarital sex or flight.
Premarital sex remains a crime in Pakistan for men and women and carries a five-year prison sentence.
“The verdict is the culmination of a history of activism and is based on the hard work the feminist movement has done for decades. The test is part of a larger patriarchy structure that depends on the victimism of the feminist characters. women and perpetuates the myth of the “perfect victim,” said Nighat Dad, a lawyer and rights activist for the Guardian.
“The barriers set for women to report rape cases are insurmountable, but this historic verdict will go a long way in dismantling those barriers,” she said.
In October, Human Rights Watch said virginity examinations had long been a routine part of criminal proceedings in Pakistan, based on the misogynistic assumption that a woman “accustomed to sex” is less likely. that has been raped. Police and prosecutors have used the findings to accuse victims of illegal sexual assault violations and treat them as criminals.
Pakistani Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari praised the ruling, which will only apply to the state of Punjab, the Twitter.