Council of Europe calls for ‘conversion practices’ ban

The Council of Europe has called upon member states to ban “conversion practices” which seek to alter a person’s sexual identity.

Parliamentarians voted for the motion calling on nations to “provide criminal sanctions based on a clear and comprehensive definition of the proscribed practices” at its assembly in Strasbourg.

The motion comfortably passed by 71 votes to 21, with two abstentions, as reported by Evangelical Focus. The council, comprised of 46 member nations, is arguably Europe’s most influential human rights organisation, but it does not have law-making power, meaning legislation across the continent is unchanged following this vote.

The council also voted to strengthen protections for LGBTQI people and promote more collaboration on such matters with religious bodies. It rejected several proposed amendments to soften the legislation, including a potential ban on surgeries which cause permanent sex changes.

Campaigning for the motion was led by British queer activist Kate Osborne, which Christian Institute Deputy Director Simon Calvert described as “surprising," given that no government across Britain has “been able to dream up” legislation in this area that “doesn’t trample all over basic freedom of speech and freedom of religion.”

He said: “I’ve lost count of the number of KCs who have pointed out how needless and dangerous it is to legislate in the kind of knee jerk fashion demanded by campaigners when the law already fully protects all people from all kinds of verbal and physical abuse.

“Thankfully, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is just a talking shop and this motion will have little effect.”