03/12/2025 Equality and Non-Discrimination | LGBTI
The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, meeting today in Paris, expressed concern that conversion practices persist across Council of Europe member states, often covertly.
The report by Kate Osborne (United Kingdom, SOC), adopted unanimously by the committee, emphasises that these practices – also referred to as conversion therapies or reparative therapies – aim to “change, repress or suppress or eliminate a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression” based on the false belief that such aspects are “pathological or undesirable”. They include psychological counselling; spiritual and religious rituals; aversion methods, as well as verbal, physical and sexual abuse; isolation; forced medication; or electric shocks, according to the adopted text.
Considering that conversion practices have no scientific basis and have harmful consequences on the individuals subjected to them, the committee believes that “action to prevent and counter the harm caused […] is urgently needed”. This is both a public health imperative and a matter of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the parliamentarians said, reaffirming the importance of personal autonomy, as protected under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In this context, the committee called on member states to adopt legislation to “prohibit conversion practices, providing for criminal sanctions and based on a clear and comprehensive definition of the proscribed practices”, and to establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms. It added that the experience of pioneering countries in this area, such as Malta, provided valuable insight to guide legislative reforms.
Furthermore, the committee proposed a set of measures concerning victim support and protection, and with regard to training and public awareness. It also recommends strengthening co-operation with civil society organisations – particularly those active in protecting the rights of LGBTI persons – professional organisations and religious institutions; evaluating the legislation implemented; and encouraging research and data collection on the prevalence and impact of conversion practices.
The parliamentarians concluded by stressing the importance of all member states prohibiting such practices.