TBILISI, July 30 (RIA Novosti) – About 50 people gathered in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Tuesday for a rally to “end the institution of virginity,” outside a forensic bureau that reportedly issues virginity certificates.
The rally was announced after Georgian media reported that every year about 200 women aged 35 to 40 go to the National Forensic Bureau for an examination to certify their virginity.
A virginity certificate can be obtained at a price of about $106 for a five-day-long formal test, or at more than $400 for a fast-track examination, Georgian media have said, citing data obtained from the bureau.
The rally was organized by the self-proclaimed Independent Georgian Feminists group, which accused state institutions, including the bureau, of encouraging the “harmful tradition” of considering an intact hymen as “an indicator of a woman’s chastity.”
The group said on a Facebook page for the event that a virginity test was an “ugly and humiliating practice” that violates a “woman’s fundamental right to a free choice.” The “institution of virginity,” which establishes “control over women’s sexuality,” is an anachronism, they said.
At the rally, demonstrators held up banners saying, “Down with the institution of virginity,” “Virginity tests are disgusting” and “Sex does not require a marriage,” among others.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the forensic bureau said that such examinations were usually carried out on a request from law enforcers in order to establish whether a rape had taken place.
“The statistics provided by the group of feminists contain information only about examinations arranged by investigators. The bureau carries out such tests to find signs of violence during sexual intercourse,” the bureau said.
“As far as establishing virginity is concerned, such a service can be provided by a certified gynecological institution. And a number of individuals of age addressed us on this issue. The issue of what was their purpose after completing the expert evaluation is beyond our jurisdiction,” the statement said.
