Freedom Charity is pleased to announce virginity testing and hymenoplasty is now a criminal offence.
At Freedom we work hard to initiate changes to the law, or indeed introduce new laws, to protect those at risk of Forced Marriage, FGM, and other forms of Dishonour Abuse.
On the 16th June 2014 we saw the fruition of our work that we had done with the Home Office to make Forced Marriage a criminal offence. Read the UK Government news story here and watch the launch video made in conjunction with Theresa May MP (the then Home Secretary) here.
We have been instrumental in raising both governmental and public awareness of the abusive practices of Virginity Testing and Hymenoplasty and we welcome the proposed introduction of law which leads to these practices becoming criminal offences and future perpetrators being brought to justice.
The Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act came into force on 3 March 2004 and was amended by sections 70 to 75 Serious Crime Act 2015. From 31st October 2015 all regulated professionals (in health, teaching and social work) are required to report known cases of FGM or disclosed cases of FGM direct to the police.
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What your donation can provide
could help us raise awareness in schools and prevent FGM
could provide a counselling session for a victim of abuse
could provide a new identity for a victim fleeing abuse
could provide support for a girl fleeing abuse for a month.