Alternative there for rape test

Rape victims do not need to undergo the two-finger test because there are other medical options to prove the crime, speakers told a discussion yesterday.

Terming the two-finger test unscientific, they also said this is disgraceful for the victims.

Under this procedure, doctors could insert two fingers into the victim's vagina to assess injuries and determine whether her hymen is broken.

The speakers said the absence of the hymen can be caused by other factors, and suggested alternatives like checking outer parts of the body and examining clothes.   

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) jointly organised the discussion titled on "medico-legal test of raped women and children" at the office of BMP in the capital.

In her speech, BMP president Ayesha Khanom said the two-finger test should not be acceptable in any civilised society. “It is the violation of fundamental human rights.”

She said the existing laws should be implemented in such a way that the rape victims do not feel harassed.

Barrister Sara Hossain, honorary executive director of BLAST, said this test degrades the self-respect of women.

“A rape victim becomes traumatised after the two-finger test and they don't want to go through it,” said Farida Yeasmin, deputy commissioner of the women protection wing of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.      

Prof M Muzaherul Huq, a forensic scientist and medico-legal consultant, said, “Countries like India and Sri Lanka do not have the two-finger test medical procedure.”

He also said that in Bangladesh, medical support for rape victims is not satisfactory.