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Campanie
General Information:
Strategic approach:
Strategic approach: Although condemned by WHO as a violation of human rights, virginity testing is still performed in Romania in legal-forensic facilities. For a small fee, the exam can still be performed at the request of parents who want to test their daughters. In 2019, these tests accounted for 2% of all examinations carried out by the National Forensic Institute, which means around 1.000 tests annually.

According to WHO, virginity is a social construct that reflects gender discrimination. Virginity testing is based upon hymen examination, which is less than 10% medically accurate, rendering the test useless and traumatizing.

Our main objective was to increase awareness on this issue and to mobilize the public in order to gather as much support as possible. We wanted turn the tide of public opinion so fiercely in our favour so that lawmakers and politicians would be left with no other choice but to change the law.

Our main target was the general audience of people who either had little knowledge about this abusive exam or who never heard of it before. We wanted to appeal to them through our campaign and to ignite action by inviting them to sign our anti-virginity testing petition.

An equally important secondary target were the lobby makers, the lawmakers and the press, whom we wanted to take a stand and condemn these tests as being illegal and absurd. We wanted to expose them to the hurtful reality that can be caused by virginity testing and how the girls who are being tested end up baring psychological issues.

A more niched lateral target were the girls who were abusively tested by their parents. Through social channels we encouraged them to speak up about their traumatizing experiences and even get help by our therapists available in the VIF Network.
Execution:
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