Underneath the brand new ruling it’s now unlawful to hold out, supply or support and abet virginity testing or hymenoplasty – a surgical process that goals to reconstruct the hymen – alongside making it unlawful for UK nationals and residents to conduct these practices outdoors the UK.
Minister Swann commented: “For too lengthy ladies and ladies have been coerced, pressured and shamed into present process these degrading and intrusive procedures which might result in excessive psychological trauma within the sufferer, and may provoke circumstances together with anxiousness, melancholy and post-traumatic stress dysfunction, and have even been linked to suicide.
“I welcome the enactment of this new UK-wide laws which is able to ban these procedures, and kinds a key a part of our method to deal with the prevalence of violence in opposition to ladies and ladies.”
A variety of helps for these affected by this problem is obtainable in Northern Eire, as follows:
• NI Direct 24-hour Home and Sexual Abuse Helpline
The Home and Sexual Abuse helpline is open to men and women affected by home abuse or violence. This free phone service is obtainable 24 hours a day, twelve months a 12 months.
Freephone: 0808 802 1414
Electronic mail: assist@dsahelpline.org
• Sufferer Help NI
Sufferer Help NI is an impartial charity which helps folks affected by crime. It presents a free and confidential service, whether or not or not against the law has been reported and no matter how way back the occasion came about.
Helpline: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Telephone: Belfast Hub Workplace: 028 9024 3133; Foyle Hub Workplace: 028 7137 0086
Electronic mail:belfast@victimsupportni.org.uk foyle@victimsupportni.org.uk
• Kids’s Legislation Centre
The Kids’s Legislation Centre works to guard the rights of all kids dwelling in Northern Eire, notably those that are essentially the most deprived – for instance, kids with disabilities, particular academic wants, psychological sick well being, homeless younger folks.
Telephone: 028 9024 5704
Electronic mail: data@childrenslawcentre.org
• Northern Eire Commissioner for Kids and Younger Folks (NICCY)
The position of the Northern Eire Commissioner for Kids and Younger Folks is to safeguard and promote the rights and finest pursuits of youngsters and younger folks. A part of NICCY’s position is to advise authorities and all its businesses on the insurance policies, laws, and providers it gives for kids, younger folks and their households.
• Safeguarding Board for Northern Eire
The Safeguarding Board for Northern Eire works to make sure that there are not any limitations to defending kids and younger folks as much as the age of 18 in Northern Eire. The board gives schooling on safeguarding, advises the Division of Well being and engages with kids and younger folks on the problems that matter to them.
