Judy: As the debate continues
into the U.S. Over reproductive
rights, in the republic of
Mongolia teenage girls are
fighting not to be subjected
against their will to so-called
virginity tests in schools.
The practice was officially
banned by the government last
year but it continues
nevertheless.
This story was produced in
collaboration with the global
press journal which is an
international news organization
that trains local women
journalists in the world's least
covered places.
Reporter: In the hinterlands of
Mongolia, young girls are made
to go through dodge no exams at
school a tangibly to see if they
have had sexual intercourse.
Doctors perform the invasive
exams by order of school
administrators without the
permission of the students or
even their parents.
>> Did they have your consent to
do this?
>> They do not ask for consent.
They just say go.
>> What happens when you do not
consent?
>> If we do not agree, our
teachers said we have to and no
one should be left unexamined.
Reporter: She is just one of the
girls still being subjected to
virginity test even after the
government of Mongolia banned
the practice last year.
The band was in response to
student led protests and
pressure from the united nations
which in honey 18 condemned the
practice and declared it an act
of violence that degrades
teenage girls.
Some 20 countries still
implement virginity tests
according to the U.N.
And -- an investigation found
the practice has continued in
rural schools with impunity.
>> Have you and your friends
been able to speak your family
about this?
Is there also a fear of stigma?
>> I do not talk to my family
about it.
I am afraid of the stigma so I
go along with the task.
If you don't, many people will
insulted.
>> Are you and your friends
subjected to bullying and
humiliation after the tests are
conducted?
What is the environment like in
school?
>> If you don't, people think
you are pregnant.
I had one friend who said she
would not do the test and she
was pregnant but she wanted to
keep it a secret.
Her teacher discovered it and
the rumor spread and she was
bullied a lot by the students.
The whole school insulted her
terribly and she finally moved
to another school.
>> What made you want to speak
up about this?
>> We do not want to go through
these examinations.
They tell us we have to do this.
I wanted to raise my voice about
this.
>> Last year there was an uproar
after the stories came out about
the tests and the tests were
banned.
Does the school administration
not fear any action taken
against them?
>> School administrators are not
worried about it because no
action has been taken against
them as far as I know though
they are still conducting the
examinations.
Reporter: The reporter spoke
with the "Newshour" from the
capital city
what have you found about how
many schools in Mongolia are
still implementing this invasive
exam?
>> I found out that at least 10
schools around the country have
reported undergoing virginity
tests.
I found out this information
from students and doctors and
school administration during my
reporting.
Reporter: What do principles of
the schools say to justify
giving these girls this exam?
>> They claim the exams prevent
teenage pregnancies and sexually
transmitted diseases and right
now the abortion rate is quite
high though there is no actual
data to back there, -- to back
their claims.
Reporter: What is the point of
these exams?
>> The government claims the
main purpose is they want to
come up with the exact numbers
and data to keep a check on how
many abortions and unwanted
pregnancies are happening.
Reporter: I know there has been
a lot of protest in the country
over these exams.
How much pressure is a
government undertook banned the
exams altogether?
>> The activists are calling for
a complete ban on virginity
tests even though the government
had restricted the conduct of
these exams in the school
environment last year.
Some schools are still doing it
secretly.
That means the measure is still
not effective.
They say they will continue
fighting and they are educating
the victims to protest.
I interviewed many girls and
they all said they went through
the exam without any consent.
Right after class they are
forced to go to the doctor's
office and they have to have
their Regina screened there are.
They told me how challenging it
is for them and it leaves them
traumatized.
They have to stay in line
outside the doctor's office and
take off their clothing.
Some girls cried during the
interview and it was quite a
hard moment.
Reporter: She said they were
willing to talk and relive the
trauma so other girls would not
have to endure what they did.
>> No one has the right to touch
our bodies without our content
-- without our consent.
It is a violation of our human
rights.
Every voice is important
especially girls and their
families.
Everyone needs to speak up.