How Can We Use Conversion Therapy to Change Someoneã¢â‚¬â„¢s Sexual Orientation?
| HTMLCountry1 Report on conversion therapyPublished May 2020 Author Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity Presented To the HRC at its 44th session, June 2020 Link A/HRC/44/53 Background"Conversion therapy" is an umbrella term used to describe interventions of a wide-ranging nature, all of which have in common the belief that a person's sexual orientation or gender identity can and should be changed. Such practices aim (or claim to aim) at changing people from gay, lesbian or bisexual to heterosexual and from trans or gender diverse to cisgender. Depending on the context, the term is used for a multitude of practices and methods, some of which are clandestine and therefore poorly documented. Conversion therapy currently happens in a multitude of countries in all regions of the world. Perpetrators include private and public mental health-care providers, faith-based organizations, traditional healers and State agents. Promoters include family and community members, political authorities and other agents. SummaryThe word "therapy", derived from the Greek, denotes "healing". However, practices of conversion therapy are just the opposite: they inflict severe pain and suffering, resulting in long-lasting psychological and physical damage, the Independent Expert concludes in his report. He also notes that these practices are inherently degrading and discriminatory. They are rooted in the belief that LGBT persons are somehow inferior, and that they must at any cost modify their orientation or identity to remedy that supposed inferiority. He highlights that such practices constitute an egregious violation of rights to bodily autonomy, health, and free expression of one's sexual orientation and gender identity. When conducted forcibly, they also represent a breach to the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment. The Independent Expert calls for a global ban on conversion therapy. This process would need to include:
View easy-to-read summary of the report Read the press release Watch the launch events (English | Español) MethodologyFor the preparation of this report, the Independent Expert carried out an extensive literature review and outreach measures. On 21 November 2019, he issued a call for written submissions, in response to which he received 33 contributions from Member States, including national human rights institutions, and 94 from civil society organizations, academics, medical practitioners, faith-based organizations, parliamentarians and individuals. Find graphs and charts showing the breakdown of inputs received by region, followed by links to the inputs received below. On 5 February 2020, he held a public consultation in Geneva. See the concept note (English | French | Spanish) On 29 February 2020, he convened a meeting of experts in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Inputs receivedNumber (and percentage) by region Number (and percentage) by stakeholder type Number by stakeholder type and by region Member States
National Human Rights Institutions, Equality Bodies and Ombudspersons
Members of parliament
Civil Society Organisations (including faith-based organisations)
Academics
Health Practitioners
Other individuals and researchers
HTMLCountry3 HTMLCountry2 | HTMLCountry10 Special Procedures About Special Procedures Submitting complaints About country visits Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity Overview Mandate International standards Annual thematic reports Country visits Activities Recent thematic reports Gender theory (2021) Impact of COVID-19 on LGBT persons (2020) So-called "conversion therapy" (2020) Social, cultural and economic inclusion (2019) Data collection and management (2019) Legal recognition of gender identity and depathologisation (2018) Overview of violence and discrimination (2018) Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity (2017) Decriminalisation and anti-discrimination measures (2017) Issues in focus The struggle of trans and gender-diverse persons COVID-19 Effective inclusion of LGBT persons Contact information Victor Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity Fax: (+41) 22 917 90 06 Personal social media of the Independent Expert: Others involved OHCHR and the human rights of LGBTI people External Links Free & Equal: United Nations for LGBT Equality |
How Can We Use Conversion Therapy to Change Someoneã¢â‚¬â„¢s Sexual Orientation?
Source: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SexualOrientationGender/Pages/ReportOnConversiontherapy.aspx