(AFP) The Swedish government wants to criminalise virginity tests to strengthen the protection of young girls and women at risk of so-called honour crimes, sources told AFP on Wednesday.
Socialstyrelsen, the administration in charge of social services, said ministers were looking at imposing penalties on “virginity control” and “virginity certificates,” as well as on surgical procedures aimed at restoring the hymen.
Such tests are conducted on a woman to establish whether she is a virgin, based on observation of her hymen.
The World Health Organization says the practice has no scientific basis and constitutes a violation of the sexual integrity of women.
