Around 1 in 4 LGTBIQ+ people in Europe – and almost half of trans men and women – have experienced some type of ‘conversion therapy’ for the purpose of modifying their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Practices that include “physical or sexual violence, verbal abuse and humiliation”, according to the Equality Commissioner, the belgian Hadja Lahbib.
“Conversion practices are not therapy. They are harmful. They can cause serious physical and mental harm. And, above all, they are an attack on the dignity of the person,” said Lahbib.
Currently, 8 of the 27 Member States have already banned these practices. These are Spain, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Malta and Portugal. The Community Executive intends for the rest of the countries to follow the same path.
To help them, Brussels plans to publish a study that will analyze the nature, prevalence and impact of these therapies in LGTBIQ+ people, and will promote a “structured dialogue” in order to facilitate coordinated action.
“Based on the results of the study, the Commission will take the appropriate measures to combat conversion practiceswith a particular focus on supporting Member States, which play a critical role in this area,” the strategy notes.
The Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, during the press conference this Wednesday in Strasbourg
In any case, the Community Executive does not rule out a legislative initiative at EU level, taking as a reference the recent European citizens’ initiative. Ban on conversion practices in the EUwhich has managed to gather 1.2 million signatures.
Secondly, Brussels is considering harmonizing EU legislation to better combat crimes of violence and hate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Harassment and violence motivated by hate against LGTBIQ+ people continue to increase,” says the community Executive.
In 2023, 55% of respondents had experienced harassment in the previous 12 months, an increase of 18 points compared to 2019, according to data from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights.
Cases of physical and sexual assaults have also increasedwhich disproportionately affect trans, non-binary and intersex people.
“That is why we are working to strengthen EU legislation, in order to more effectively combat incitement to hatred and violence, especially on the internet,” said the Equality Commissioner.
At EU level, the current legal framework only covers hate crimes based on racist, xenophobic and gender-based motives.
There is still no one legislation that guarantees criminal protection against crimes based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. As a result, the legal framework between Member States is fragmented and incoherent, according to Brussels.