On 6 December 2024, ILGA-Europe will host a one-day in-person meeting in Brussels, Belgium, for up to 20 activists to talk about strategies and lessons learned regarding banning conversion practices.

An increasing number of countries in Europe and Central Asia have adopted or are in the process of developing bans on conversion practices. As of September 2024, ten countries have such bans in place: Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and Spain. Efforts to develop bans are also ongoing in several other countries in the region. According to ILGA-Europe’s member organisations, there are several issues that cause regular problems in the development and debate of these bills, including sanctions and whether or how to cover conversion practices when the person subjected is an adult.

The purpose of this meeting is to gather information about the various existing and planned national-level bans, to collect good practices and responses to common issues, and to map areas where additional information is needed for advocacy in pursuit of ending these practices at the national level. The meeting is open to national level activists working on ending conversion practices, from both countries that have and have not yet adopted bans.

Logistical details

• All travel costs of selected participants, including transportation, accommodation for two nights, and subsistence, will be covered by ILGA-Europe
• The meeting is open to activists from anywhere in Europe
• Attendees will be expected to actively engage in the meeting and present about their national situation to the group (more details to be provided to selected participants)
• The meeting will take place in English
• Specific questions on transportation needs, accessibility needs, dietary requirements, etc. will be collected after selection of participants

Applications

If you’re interested in attending the meeting, fill out this application form. 

Applications are due by 23:59 CEST on Monday, 6 October 2024.If you have any questions, please contact Cianán Russell, ILGA-Europe Senior Policy Officer: cianan@ilga-europe.org

France and Malta are the two single countries in Europe that have fully banned so-called ‘conversion therapies’, but they are not alone in taking active steps against this harmful practice, which aims to change LGBTI people’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Keep reading to know more about ‘conversion therapy’, the countries who are taking steps against it, why it is important to put an end to the practice.

In 2021, France became the second country in Europe to fully ban so-called ‘conversion therapies’, after Malta in 2016. Recently, in May 2022, Greece banned it for minors as did Germany two years ago. In Spain, eight regions have prohibited it and in 2020 Albania adopted non-legislative medical guidelines on banning the practice. Furthermore, as seen in our Annual Review 2022, the Danish government continued with its banning plans, a citizens initiative in Finland was on its way to parliament, while in Ireland civil society set up an Anti-Conversion Therapy Coalition.

All this shows that ending ‘conversion therapies’ is an issue that’s gaining further prominence across the region – which is good news. Firstly, more LGBTI people are protected; second, these examples send a powerful message on the need of moving forward to other European governments; and third, these legislations push our societies to have a conversation about a larger stigma issue.

Why is it important to ban so-called ‘conversion therapies’?

‘Conversion therapy’ is the umbrella expression that refers to any sustained efforts to modify an LGBTI person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, so that they align with normative ways of being. It implies that not being heterosexual and/or cisgender is a mental disorder that can be fixed. Research shows that ‘conversion therapy’ does not work and that it can be harmful to LGBTI people, while fuelling societal prejudice.

Banning ‘conversion therapies’ is the first step to protect LGBTI people from this harmful practice. It can be a basis of a larger strategy, but other elements are needed. For example:

• A strong position against conversion therapies from national medical authorities
• Combatting fraudulent marketing and misinformation which asserts that these practices offer a ‘cure’, when they in fact do not, and a cure is not needed
• Awareness raising and public education about the issue
• Healthcare regulations
• Regulations within insurance systems so these practices are not reimbursed
• Dialogues between religious institutions and state authorities
• Strong statements from public officials against these harmful practices

All these elements can complete a robust strategy, while calls for bans from international bodies provide a framework for governments to work with.

We will keep working together with governments and institutions so ‘conversion therapies’ are not a threat to LGBTI people anymore.