25
Mar
2026
Watch
European Citizens’ Initiative 'Ban on conversion practices in the European Union' (debate)
Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, I am pleased today to intervene on behalf of the LIBE Committee to introduce the European Citizens' Initiative calling for a ban on conversion practices in the European Union. On 2 March, the LIBE Committee, together with the PETI and FEMM committees, hosted a public hearing on the Citizens' Initiative. We heard presentations by the association Against Conversion Therapy and first-hand accounts of victims of conversion practices. We also heard from the representatives of the Cyprus Presidency and the European Economic and Social Committee's rapporteur on banning conversion practices. The Commission committed to issue a study on the practices and support Member States' bans, per the LGBTIQ+ equality strategy for 2026 to 2030. Conversion practices are interventions aimed at changing, repressing or suppressing the sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression of LGBTIQ+ persons, causing severe pain, long-standing psychological and physical damage. They are rooted in the dangerous, unfounded belief that a person's identity can be inferior and in need of remedy. Due to their discriminatory, degrading, and harmful nature, conversion practices are qualified as torture by the United Nations and the Council of Europe. They are currently being banned in a growing number of EU Member States. Nevertheless, these practices still remain legal in several countries. A potential ban, as called for by the initiative, must cover both sexual orientation and gender identity. We count on the Commission to listen to the voices of the more than 1 million signatories of the initiative, and take decisive action against conversion practices. Commissioner, please do not let us down.