2022 Winners & Shortlists

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Women’s virginity as a concept is surrounded by myths, misplaced concepts and patriarchal meanings. It entrenches gender inequality by holding girls to a different sexual responsibility and standard than boys, and rewardins harmful stereotypes. Virginity tests have been labelled a violation of human rights against women by the UN since 2018. But under the Moroccan Penal Code, Article 488 is a law that does not yet provide effective protection against rape if a woman cannot prove that she was a virgin before the crime. M.A.L.I. aimed to raise consciousness around this taboo and help debunking its myths.