A couple faced legal action for pressuring their 15-year-old daughter to undergo a virginity test with a gynaecologist under the guise of checking on her well-being. The girl, unnamed for legal purposes, testified that her father resorted to physical violence and demanded the test upon learning about her relationship with a boyfriend.
The public prosecutor, Sarah Huet, disclosed that the girl’s mother received a three-month suspended sentence for encouraging the minor to undergo the test, while the father faced charges for not only the same offense but also for neglecting parental duties that jeopardized the child’s welfare. The father, a professional boxer, also faced charges for non-injurious violence and was handed a six-month suspended sentence with probation.
The father claimed the test was a harmless medical procedure to ensure the daughter’s well-being, while the wife defended his actions, attributing his behavior to frustration over their daughter’s lack of transparency despite their trust in her. The prosecutor emphasized that the mere intent of conducting a virginity test was unlawful, and the violence inflicted did not constitute acceptable parental discipline.
When informed about the impending test, the daughter reportedly suffered a panic attack and lost consciousness. Virginity testing is illegal in France, and the gynaecologist declined to perform the procedure upon the parents’ request.
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced virginity tests in 2020 as part of efforts against what he referred to as “Islamist separatism,” asserting that such practices had no place in the republic. The World Health Organization echoed these sentiments, condemning virginity testing as unscientific, a violation of human rights, and potentially harmful.
A coalition of French medical experts criticized virginity tests as archaic, regressive, and deeply sexist, highlighting the prevalence of such requirements despite lacking legal validity.