The UK government is introducing laws to protect women from virginity testing, but this doesn't erase the historic abuse of women at its borders.
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Last week the British government added a clause to its Health and Care Bill that would make hymenoplasty -- or"virginity repair" surgery -- illegal in England and Wales. In November 2021,"virginity testing" also became a criminal offence. According to an article on BMJ Global Health,"'virginity' testing involves visual inspection of the hymenal membrane by a medical professional. In some cases, the examination includes a 'two-finger' test to assess the size of the vaginal opening." However, studies have shown no test or exam can reliably and accurately determine whether a woman has had sex and the idea of such a test is largely sexist.
Independent Forensic Expert Group In March 1977, two years before the schoolteacher's case came to light, a journalist, Amrit Wilson, received a message from a friend about a 16-year-old Pakistani national who had been detained at Heathrow. The girl had"landed in Heathrow decked up in full bridalwear, anticipating a wedding to her fiancé," says Wilson who is now a writer and activist on issues of race and gender in Britain.
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