The UK wants to criminalize conversion therapy with sentences of up to 5 years in prison

The UK government has introduced a bill to criminalize so-called "conversion therapy," which aims to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices, widely condemned by human rights organizations, would be classified as abusive and harmful in the proposed legislation.

According to the bill, which applies to England and Wales, anyone engaging in these practices could face unlimited fines and up to five years in prison. The legislation also aims to penalize those who encourage or facilitate these therapies, including when they are conducted abroad.

The British government has been committed for several years to banning conversion therapy. An initial pledge was made in 2021, before being reaffirmed in 2023. The new bill puts these commitments into practice by translating them into specific legislative measures.

Beyond the criminal aspect, the text also provides for the implementation of enhanced civil protections for people exposed to these practices. These would be comparable to those already in place for situations such as forced marriage or female genital mutilation, in order to better protect potential victims.

The bill does, however, include specific exemptions for healthcare professionals. It clarifies that therapists and counselors will be able to continue conducting open and legitimate discussions about sexuality and identity without this being considered conversion practices.

Before being submitted to Parliament for further debate, the text must still undergo a pre-legislative review phase. This process will determine the final outlines of the future law, which marks a new step in the United Kingdom's commitment to banning these controversial practices.