The Welsh government is urging the public to speak out if they see any signs of honour-based abuse against women and girls taking place.
During First Minister’s Questions earlier today, Lesley Griffiths, standing in for Mark Drakeford, said they are working with the helpline Live Fear Free, which is continuing to ‘work tirelessly to ensure that no victim falls through the gaps of service provision’.
This includes the illegal practices of virginity testing and hymenoplasty which are invasive and traumatic. They can be used as a form of coercive control and can lead to forced marriages or other forms of abuse.
Virginity testing is an examination of female genitals to see if vaginal intercourse has taken place – however this has scientifically been de-bunked, as there is no way to test for virginity. It is based on the outdated idea that the hymen is broken during sex, but it can also be broken in other ways, such as horse-riding or riding a bike. Virginity testing may take place before a marriage, to ensure that the women is a virgin before the ceremony takes place. Hymenoplasty is a form of surgery that reconstructs the hymen so that it gives the impression it has broken for the first-time during sex and will bleed.
Bawso, a Welsh women’s charity have said that the practices, ‘demonstrates the intersectionality of discrimination faced by migrant women living in the UK.’ They also said the Welsh Government’s support, ‘shows the seriousness of this vice.’
These became illegal in Wales in the Health and Care Act 2022 and the Welsh government say they have released the campaign now to raise awareness. They also say they are doing more than other UK governments to publish materials with advice for care providers. Data from 2020/2021 shows that across the UK, there were 2725 reports of honour-based offences, and in South Wales specifically there were 73.
if you are concerned about yourself or have been affected by the issues mentioned, then you can reach out for help:
BAWSO: 0800 731 8147
KARMA NIRVANA: 0800 5999 247
LIVE FEAR FREE HELPLINE: 0808 80 10 800
featured image courtesy of suburbandk via Flickr.