A few decades ago, no one would have believed that a Western European country would have to resort to legislation to ban virginity tests in order to protect the lives of women and girls, yet here we are.
The Swedish government is now preparing to criminalize the practice, which currently only carries the risk of professional disciplinary action if discovered.
According to the proposal, medical professionals who partake in “virginity control” and issue “virginity certificates”—based on the observation of the hymen—or carry out surgical procedures aimed at restoring the hymen will be subjected to criminal charges.
