Best Coalition or Collaboration

Coalition to ban virginity testing

and hymenoplasty

End the harmful practices of ‘virginity’ testing and hymenoplasty. Educate all that ‘virginity’ is a false harmful notion.

The Campaign

Sadly, a patriarchal and false notion of ‘virginity’ is still being used to control women and girls, which plays a major role in so-called ‘honour’ based abuse. Both the World Health Organisation and the United Nations called for virginity testing to be banned. Yet a BBC Investigation found 21 clinics offering the harmful practice, which continued to be legal and readily available in the UK, along with the connected, invasive surgery, hymenoplasty.

IKWRO – Women’s Rights Organisation, MEWso: Rebuilding the Lives of Vulnerable Women, and Karma Nirvana, represented women and girls coerced into virginity testing and hymenoplasty. They came together with the Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to challenge the dangerous myths around ‘virginity’ and the harmful notion that it is a measure of a girl’s or woman’s worth. The coalition called for a complete ban of virginity testing and hymenoplasty.

awards

Campaign event at House of Commons with the coalition.

We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Best Coalition category! As campaigners, we know it is almost unheard to influence significant changes in the law at such speed. It would not have been possible to achieve this without the role everyone has played, working collectively on this campaign. So, it is special to receive this exciting news that we have been shortlisted and to have the opportunity to celebrate the power of collaboration!”

awards

Campaign event at House of Commons with the coalition.

As campaigners, we know it is almost unheard to influence significant changes in the law at such speed. It would not have been possible to achieve this without the role everyone has played, working collectively on this campaign. So, it is special to receive this exciting news that we have been shortlisted and to have the opportunity to celebrate the power of collaboration!”

The Change

The coalition represented a powerful combination of specialist women’s organisations, survivors, health professionals, and legal experts. Through online conferences and media coverage in the Guardian, BBC and in an ITV documentary, the campaign highlighted the issues, which were little understood, and built political pressure for change.

In July 2021, the campaign achieved a commitment in the Home Office Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to ban virginity testing, and for education in the community, schools, and clinical settings. Believing this did not go far enough, the coalition held an event in Parliament to ensure the commitment would be put into law without delay, include hymenoplasty, and have extra-territorial effect, to prevent women and girls being taken out of the UK for these harmful practices. Fifty MPs supported the New Clauses to the Health and Care Bill and, on 23 November 2021, voted to ban virginity testing, with extra-territorial effect.

Soon after, the Government announced an expert panel on hymenoplasty, to which the coalition gave expert testimony and worked with Baroness Sugg to ask incisive questions to maintain pressure in the House of Lords. On 24 January 2022, the Government tabled an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to ban hymenoplasty.

Campaign update: On 28 April 2022, the Health and Care Act passed into law banning virginity testing and hymenoplasty across the UK and where the harmful practices would take place outside of the country.

The Future

The Health and Care Bill has now received Royal Assent, bringing the ban of virginity testing and hymenoplasty into law. This a major step forward, sending a clear message that no woman or girl should face these invasive, harmful practices and will end the previously legal exploitation of women and girls by the ‘virginity’ industry.

There is much more to be done to challenge the myths around ‘virginity’ and the patriarchal and misogynistic norms that underpin these harmful practices, causing trauma and triggering so-called ‘honour’ based abuse.

The coalition is working together on a Home Office initiative to share these wider messages. They will also seek funding for specialist organisations to sustain their work, and:
• Engage the community and young people in education to challenge the perception that a woman’s or girl’s worth is connected to virginity
• Educate professionals to properly understand ‘honour’ based abuse and best practice prevention and responses
• Provide advice, advocacy, counselling and refuge to girls and women at risk of ‘honour’ based abuse.

Who else was involved?

  • Payzee Mahmod and Diana Nammi, Sara Browne – IKWRO – Women’s Rights Organisation
  • Halaleh Taheri and Natasha Feroze , Rose Fatherazi, Audrey Thampson – MEWSo,
  • Natasha Rattu – Karma Nirvana
  • Rosie Walworth, Zoe Russell – RCOG
  • Janet Fyle – Royal College of Midwives
  • Naomi Wiseman, Barrister – Garden Court Chambers
  • Charlotte Proudman, Barrister
  • Richard Holden MP
  • Robbie Lammas
  • Baroness Sugg