Conversion therapy refers to practices aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. The practice has been controversial in several countries.
In Europe, several countries have taken legal steps to ban conversion therapy. Germany implemented a ban in 2020, prohibiting medical interventions intended to alter a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, with penalties including fines and imprisonment . France followed suit in 2022, criminalizing such practices and considering them a form of psychological abuse . Belgium also outlawed conversion therapy, imposing penalties on those who attempt to change or suppress someone's sexual orientation or gender expression .
In Norway, the Parliament passed a law banning conversion therapy in 2023, criminalizing attempts to change someone's sexual identity or gender orientation, with violators facing up to three years in prison . However, the law sparked debate among Christian communities concerned about restrictions on pastoral care and freedom of expression .
Switzerland's National Council voted in favor of banning conversion therapy, aiming to prohibit practices intended to "cure" homosexuality . In Sweden, a government investigation concluded that existing laws sufficiently protect LGBT individuals, and a specific ban on conversion therapy was deemed unnecessary .
The debate over conversion therapy continues, amid concerns about individual rights, religious freedom, and the protection of vulnerable individuals from harmful practices.
