Belgium: Parliament approves law on conversion practices (conversion therapy)

Last Thursday the Belgian Parliament approved, with a large majority, a law on conversion practices (conversion therapy). The law will soon become effective (« 10 days after publication in the Moniteur belge »).

The law punishes : practicing conversion therapy, offering conversion therapy, incite persons to undergo conversion therapy and making publicity for conversion therapy.

Nobody can agree with conversion therapy, which means that conversion therapy is also punishable when practiced on consenting adults (in other words : the law is not limited to minors and vulnerable adults).

The text of the new law can be found here : https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/55/3429/55K3429003.pdf

The definition of conversion practices is as follows :

« Conversion practice means any practice which consists of a physical intervention or the application of psychological pressure, of which the perpretator assumes or pretends that it is intended to suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression regardless of whether this characteristic is actually present or merely alleged by the perpetrator.

Are not considered conversion practices: the assistance and services offered in the context of mental and physical health care in connection with the exploration and development of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of a person.

Are also not considered conversion practices: the treatments or interventions in the context of a social or medical transition offered by healthcare professionals, in accordance with the conditions and within the framework of the law of 22 August 2002 on patients’ rights. »

Last Thursday the Belgian Parliament approved, with a large majority, a law on conversion practices (conversion therapy). The law will soon become effective (« 10 days after publication in the Moniteur belge »).

The law punishes : practicing conversion therapy, offering conversion therapy, incite persons to undergo conversion therapy and making publicity for conversion therapy.

Nobody can agree with conversion therapy, which means that conversion therapy is also punishable when practiced on consenting adults (in other words : the law is not limited to minors and vulnerable adults).

The text of the new law can be found here : https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/55/3429/55K3429003.pdf

The definition of conversion practices is as follows :

« Conversion practice means any practice which consists of a physical intervention or the application of psychological pressure, of which the perpretator assumes or pretends that it is intended to suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression regardless of whether this characteristic is actually present or merely alleged by the perpetrator.

Are not considered conversion practices: the assistance and services offered in the context of mental and physical health care in connection with the exploration and development of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of a person.

Are also not considered conversion practices: the treatments or interventions in the context of a social or medical transition offered by healthcare professionals, in accordance with the conditions and within the framework of the law of 22 August 2002 on patients’ rights. »

Last Thursday the Belgian Parliament approved, with a large majority, a law on conversion practices (conversion therapy). The law will soon become effective (« 10 days after publication in the Moniteur belge »).

The law punishes : practicing conversion therapy, offering conversion therapy, incite persons to undergo conversion therapy and making publicity for conversion therapy.

Nobody can agree with conversion therapy, which means that conversion therapy is also punishable when practiced on consenting adults (in other words : the law is not limited to minors and vulnerable adults).

The text of the new law can be found here : https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/55/3429/55K3429003.pdf

The definition of conversion practices is as follows :

« Conversion practice means any practice which consists of a physical intervention or the application of psychological pressure, of which the perpretator assumes or pretends that it is intended to suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression regardless of whether this characteristic is actually present or merely alleged by the perpetrator.

Are not considered conversion practices: the assistance and services offered in the context of mental and physical health care in connection with the exploration and development of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of a person.

Are also not considered conversion practices: the treatments or interventions in the context of a social or medical transition offered by healthcare professionals, in accordance with the conditions and within the framework of the law of 22 August 2002 on patients’ rights. »