A couple faced legal repercussions after attempting to subject their 15-year-old daughter to a virginity test following the revelation of her relationship with a boyfriend. The girl, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, disclosed in court that her father had physically assaulted her and demanded the test upon discovering her romantic involvement.
The public prosecutor, Sarah Huet, disclosed that the mother received a suspended three-month prison sentence for encouraging the minor to undergo the examination to determine her virginity. Furthermore, the father faced charges for not only the same offense but also for neglecting his parental duties, which jeopardized the well-being and education of the child.
Despite being a professional boxer, the man was convicted of non-injurious violence and received a six-month suspended sentence with a two-year probation period. He defended his actions by claiming that the gynecological test was merely a precautionary measure to ensure the girl’s health, stating that he had acted out of concern for her well-being.
The wife defended her husband’s actions, attributing his outburst to their daughter’s perceived lack of transparency despite their trust in her. The prosecutor emphasized that the mere intention of conducting a virginity test was sufficient grounds for legal action, without the need for actual medical procedures, and clarified that such violent actions did not constitute acceptable parental discipline.
Upon learning of the proposed test, the teenager reportedly experienced a panic attack and lost consciousness. In France, any form of virginity testing is illegal, and the gynecologist declined to perform the procedure when approached by the parents.
French President Emmanuel Macron strongly denounced virginity tests in 2020, condemning them as part of a broader effort against extremism. The World Health Organization echoed this sentiment, highlighting the unscientific nature of virginity testing, its violation of human rights, and potential harm to individuals subjected to it.
A group of French medical experts criticized the practice as archaic, regressive, and inherently sexist, emphasizing the societal concern over the persistence of virginity requirements in contemporary times.