#UnExaminable is a campaign focused on an emotional film, which draws a parallel between the national high-school exams and virginity testing, highlighting the abusive nature of the latter.

The tearjerker video captures a young Romanian woman’s anxious thoughts as she’s sitting alone on a chair, appearing to be taking an official exam. But the narrative turns dark when her father grabs her from the chair and leads her to a gynecology room, where she is being subjected to a virginity test, revealing that this is in fact the hardest exam for her. The emotional video aims to spark empathy and urges viewers to sign a petition aimed at outlawing these exams from legislation.

Although condemned by WHO as a violation of human rights, virginity testing is still officially performed in Romania in medical forensic units. For a small fee, the exam can still be performed at the request of parents who want to test their daughters. These tests, carried out by the National Medical Forensic Institute, account for almost 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 to turn the tide of public opinion so fiercely in our favor that lawmakers and politicians would be left with no other choice but to change the law.

We see a series of close-up shots with Ana, a 16-year-old teenager. The images seem to present to us a teenager who is struggling during an exam. We see her chewing her pen, we see her stressed gaze and her body language highlights the difficult moments as well. While we see these images, we hear Ana's thoughts.

Ana:

I would do anything for a cheat-sheet right now.

Or for Deea to whisper to me, like she does in class.

I don’t remember anything…

I forgot even my own name.

Ana… Ana who?

The camera zooms in on Ana's exam paper, giving us a close-up view. We see her hesitant hand as she writes her name and the date at the top of the page. We continue to hear her thoughts.

Ana:

What is today’s date?

I thought I was ready for this exam.

After all, it’s not the first one.

The camera focuses on Ana's face in anothe close-up shot. We can see the distress she's feeling, and fear is evident in her eyes. As she checks boxes on her exam paper, we continue to hear her thoughts.

Ana:

Get it together, Ana. It’s just an exam.

It can’t be harder than high school admission.

And it’s only normal to be nervous in moments like these.

Suddenly, the music becomes more tense, and Ana's father enters the frame. He grabs her arm, pulling her up. We watch as she walks down a hallway, with her father's arm firmly holding her. Along the way, she passes by a pregnant woman and some other people waiting in chairs. It becomes clear that Ana is inside a medical unit, and the document she was completing was a medical form. Meanwhile, we hear her thoughts.

Ana:

If my friends were to find out, I’d be so ashamed.

“Are you afraid of a little exam?” (mimicking her friends)

What do they know?

They don’t have to go through this.

The music intensifies, and we see Ana entering the doctor's office and handing over her medical form without making eye contact.

Ana:

It starts.

I’m starting to feel sick.

The doctor briefly reviews the form before addressing Ana in a cold, clinical tone:

Doctor:

Undress, then sit on the chair with your legs wide open.

The scene shifts to a series of shots showing Ana preparing for the medical procedure. First, she takes off her sneakers, then her jeans, and finally her underpants. Her movements are awkward and unsteady, and it's evident that she is feeling shaken and scared.

Ana:

My heart is going to explode.

Next, we see the doctor, who is shown putting on a surgical glove. The camera then pans around to show Ana lying on the medical chair with her legs spread and gripping the handle tightly. The doctor moves a surgical lamp into position above her and holds up two fingers as he is ready to start of the procedure: the virginity test. While we see these images, we hear Ana's thoughts.

Ana:

The two-finger test. This is the hardest exam for me.

So my dad can check if I’m still a virgin.

Because that’s the way it should be.

I have to remain immaculate until marriage.

Otherwise, he’s going to be mad at me.

The camera shifts to a view from behind Ana, with the doctor visible in the background as he performs the virginity exam. A series of close-up shots follow, showing Ana's struggles during the procedure: she grips the chair handle tightly, tears come down her face, and she breathes heavily as she tries to hold back her sobs. Meanwhile, we hear her thoughts.

Ana:

The doctor tells me to relax.

That it will be over soon.

But it’s impossible.

As long as he has his fingers inside me, as long as he touches me without

my consent, I feel humiliated and raped, and I wish I didn’t exist.

And this is not all…

I have to wait for the results.

I’m always terrified of the results.

The scene concludes with a series of supers, that clarify and conclude the story:

1. At the virginity exam, there is no difference between passed or failed.

2. According to WHO, virginity testing is not medically relevant and can cause trauma.

3. However, in Romania, some girls are still forced by their parents to take this unnecessary fake exam.

4. Sign the #UnExaminable petition and let’s eliminate virginity tests.

5. A campaign initiated by the VIF Network

On June 6th, 2022, when high-schoolers across Romania were set to take the BAC (Baccalaureate) exam, which determines whether they can graduate and attend university, #UnExaminable was launched to raise awareness about the abusive practice of virginity exams. By taking advantage of this important national moment, the campaign aimed to draw attention to the urgency of outlawing this practice and gained significant traction in the media.

The campaign was perceived as widely controversial, having sparked all kinds of reactions, from people being outraged that they’re still being performed nowadays to people defending the parents who request these tests to people mocking the campaign.