The mayor's initiative has prompted human rights organizations to raise awareness of "scientifically baseless" virginity testing.
The mayor's office hasn't responded to allegations that the measure is a violation of a women's rights to privacy, a concept codified in South Africa's constitution.
Mayor In South Africa Awards Girl Students With Scholarships for Being Virgins — Could be… https://t.co/bjXHmJYAMt pic.twitter.com/mzq9lHZUCh
— Jasmine Sanders (@jasminesanders) January 25, 2016
The recent announcement has many opponents pointing out that the measure stifles education, and is not fair to rape victims. According to statistics as of 2009, every fourth man in South Africa has confessed to committing rape. Some 50% of those who did admit to rape said that they had committed the crime more than once.
The International Rehabilitation Centre for Torture observes that virginity testing is a violation of women's rights and could be considered "torture under international law."
