PACE calls for ban on conversion practices that "prevent" gender transition

An illustrative image of practices for people after "conversion therapy" in Switzerland. Photo: Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch

On January 29, 2026, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution calling for a complete ban on "conversion practicies" – measures or efforts aimed at changing, repressing, or suppressing a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, based on the false belief that such core aspects of a person’s identity are pathological or undesirable or somehow able to change.

The document classifies as "conversion therapy" any actions aimed at promoting heterosexual attraction or aligning a person's gender identity with their sex assigned at birth, include psychological or behavioural counselling, spiritual and religious rituals, as well as other forms of intervention.

The document unites under the common concept of coercive practices a wide range of actions – from direct coercion to spiritual and pastoral assistance, including prayer for people with gender dysphoria.

PACE also called on the 46 member countries of the organization to strengthen the promotion of LGBT ideology among children and introduce legislation to prohibit conversion practices, providing for criminal sanctions in the spheres of healthcare, education, and religion, which could lead to banning parents, doctors, and clergy from dissuading youth from hormonal therapy and gender reassignment surgeries.

Previously, the UOJ wrote about how the Ministry of Culture criticized feminine and masculine traits as "gender stereotypes".

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