PACE calls for ban on conversion practices

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopts resolution calling for ban on conversion practices

This week in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution calling on member states to ban conversion practices that aim to change or suppress sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The resolution calls on governments to take legislative measures covering all forms of these practices, strengthen support services for victims and raise public awareness.

Although the document is not legally binding, it is presented as an international human rights standard and provides a detailed roadmap for national authorities. The resolution stresses that conversion practices seriously harm the dignity and rights of LGBTQI+s, as well as have psychological and social consequences. The issue has gained particular relevance in recent years, amid growing disinformation and campaigns against trans+inclusivity in the region.

Significant resistance was also observed during the discussions. The rapporteur of the resolution, the British Labour MP Kate Osbourne, faced coordinated pressure to remove gender identity and trans+ from the text. Thousands of letters containing anti-trans+ disinformation were sent to the Assembly members, some of which were voiced during the debates.

Nevertheless, the inclusive language was preserved thanks to cross-party cooperation in the Assembly. The resolution was adopted by more than a two-thirds majority, with 71 votes in favor, 26 against and 2 abstentions. The document also calls on member states to establish mechanisms and data collection systems to monitor conversion practices.

The adoption of the resolution reflects a strengthening of the position within European institutions that conversion practices are in conflict with human rights. This step taken within the framework of the Council of Europe creates new pressure for legal reforms and public debate in Azerbaijan and the countries of the region, while also highlighting the importance of an institutional response to the spread of disinformation and trans+phobia.

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