Legislation – Health and Care Act 2022
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There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Health and Care Act 2022, Section 144.
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PART 5Virginity testing and hymenoplasty offences
CHAPTER 1Virginity testing offences
Virginity testing offences: Northern Ireland
144Offence of virginity testing: Northern Ireland
(1)
It is an offence under the law of Northern Ireland for a person to carry out virginity testing.
(2)
“Virginity testing” means the examination of female genitalia, with or without consent, for the purpose (or purported purpose) of determining virginity.
(3)
An offence is committed under subsection (1) only if the person—
(a)
is in Northern Ireland, or
(b)
is outside the United Kingdom, and is a United Kingdom national or habitually resident in Northern Ireland.
(4)
“United Kingdom national” means an individual who is—
(a)
a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen,
(b)
a person who under the British Nationality Act 1981 is a British subject, or
(c)
a British protected person within the meaning of that Act.
(5)
In subsection (2), “female genitalia” means a vagina or vulva.