Human Rights Watch commends the efforts of some Turkish doctors to end the participation of medical professionals in abusive virginity exams. Many doctors, however, continue to subject women and girls to this gross invasion of their bodily integrity. The report calls on the entire Turkish medical community to refuse to participate in such exams. Human Rights Watch urges medical schools and organizations to oppose publicly virginity exams and to educate medical professionals of their rights and responsibilities. All health care providers should secure a woman's consent before performing any gynecological exam.
Turkey is one of the U.S. government's largest aid recipients.
In addition, the U.S. continues to provide the Turkish police with anti-terrorism training. The report urges the U.S. government to condemn publicly state participation in forced virginity control exams and to emphasize respect for women's human rights as an important component of efforts to improve Turkey's human rights record. Further, the report calls for an end to U.S. training for Turkish police as long as their involvement in torture and cruel and inhuman treatment, including forced virginity exams, continues. The report also urges the Turkish government to denounce forced virginity exams as a human rights abuse and work to end the practice. Allegations of forced virginity exams should be investigated and those responsible held to account.