The Government indicated in early October 2020 that doctors issuing virginity certificates will incur a penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros. A measure supported by the College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.
- “Outside the medico-legal context, the certificate of virginity has no meaning and represents a real mistreatment for women”, according to the CNGOF.
- “The same considerations should apply to hymen repairs, which are no longer necessary and for which we are asking for the end of reimbursement for this act by Health Insurance”, estimates the CNGOF.
“Virginity certificates should no longer exist in France in the 21st century, which is why the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) is in favor of penalizing these certificates both for the doctors who would write them, and for the families. who ask for it”. In a press release, the CNGOF supports the Government, which indicated at the beginning of October that the doctors who will issue virginity certificates will incur a one-year prison sentence and a 15,000 euro fine.
“A real abuse for women”
“Outside the medico-legal context, this certificate has no meaning and represents a real mistreatment for women”, pursue health professionals. They point out that the mistreatment of minors must be the subject of a declaration to the Childhood Social Aid, and that if the woman is an adult, the lifting of medical secrecy should be considered in the event of a request for a certificate of virginity, as for domestic violence.
“The same considerations should apply to hymen repairs, which are no longer necessary and for which we are asking for the end of reimbursement for this act by Health Insurance”, concludes the CNGOF.
Few existing figures
Virginity certificates and hymen reconstructions are sometimes requested before a religious marriage. “By definition, there are few existing figures on this because most of it is underground. But every year several cases come to light,” informed the Ministry of the Interior.
In an interview with Le Parisien, Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior, had already announced that the government planned to “attacking virginity certificates”. “Some doctors still dare to certify that a woman is a virgin to allow a religious marriage, despite the condemnation of these practices by the council of the College of Physicians. We will not only formally prohibit it, but propose penalization”, assured the minister. Remarks supported by Marlène Schiappa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior, in charge of Citizenship.
Among the health professionals concerned, the measure is debated. There is this position of the College of Gynecologists but others believe that this measure could endanger women who request these interventions because of possible reactions in their families.
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