Swiss National Council in favour of ban on conversion therapy
Swiss lower house during an earlier meeting. Photo AFP, Fabrice Coffrini
Central Europe
The Swiss Nationalrat, the National Council, wants to forbid conversion therapy or other healing measures meant to "cure" someone of homosexuality.
To that end, the Grand Chamber supported a motion from the legal commission on Monday, Ref.ch writes. Of the 191 representatives present, 143 voted in favour, 37 against, and 11 abstained. The motion also wants to forbid advertising therapies that want to change people's sexual orientation if they are homosexual.
Exhibitionism
At the same time, the proposal does leave room for discussions about one's own sexual orientation, medically indicated measures for gender reassignment and therapies for sexual preferences. The ban mainly aims at forbidding exhibitionism and paedosexuality, as reported by Ref.ch.
The Swiss Bundesrat had asked for the rejection of the motion, as the ban is not possible at the federal level, according to Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter. Currently, conversion therapies are already criminally punishable if they restrict personal freedom, for example. The Ministry of Justice has ordered a report on the possibilities and necessity of a ban.
The motion will now go to the Council of States.
Provision
In various Swiss cantons, conversion therapy is already forbidden, Blick reports. In addition, several others are considering a ban at the moment. At the same time, voices demand a uniform provision on the subject.
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