INDIA Women’s groups demand action against virginity tests

(August3, 2009) Leading women's groups in India have called on the government to put an end to indignities against women such as making some of them undergo virginity tests and disrobing in public. "It is shameful that governmental bodies treat women without any dignity," says Sister Mary Scaria, one of 150 people from seven women's organizations who demonstrated in New Delhi. They gathered at Jantar Mantar, a downtown area set aside for public protests. The demonstration came in the wake of several recent reports where women were either stripped in public, or forced to undergo a physical examination to prove their virginity. Later, the groups submitted a memorandum to the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, demanding action against such humiliations. They also noted that there has been an increase in assaults on women which has created national indignation. According to the National Crime Reports Bureau, every hour there are two rapes, two kidnappings, four molestations and seven incidents of cruelty inflicted on Indian women from husbands and relatives.The women's groups condemned the virginity tests on the women as discriminatory, "highly invasive and often involuntary" and examples of society treating women as secondary citizens. Women now fear government and police officials, they added.The women's groups have urged the government to educate police and government officials on human rights, gender sensitivity and equality.