– Finally. Conversion therapy is an unacceptable interference with people’s sexual orientation and gender identity that destroys lives. Now it will finally be banned, says Culture and Equality Minister Anette Trettebergstuen. A press release.

She presented suggestion during a press conference with Minister of Justice and Emergency Situations Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) on Friday.

The ban on practicing conversion therapy will affect “any person who offends others by using psychotherapeutic, medical, alternative medicine or religious methods or similar systematic procedures, with the aim of influencing the person concerned to change, deny or remove their sexual orientation or gender. identify”.

Trettebergstuen points out that religious acts will also be affected by the ban.

The ban applies not only in Norway, but also if you travel abroad to carry out such actions. In addition, the marketing of conversion therapies is prohibited.

Consent without excuse

Even if adults have given their consent to the treatment to which they are subjected, this should not have a decisive weight, according to the comments of the law.

– The important question will be whether the attempted conversion offends others. Here, the specific conditions must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Pressure, persuasion, abuse of a position of vulnerability, dependence are examples of conditions that can lead to a consent not being valid, explains Trettebergstuen.

She says she has reason to believe the proposal will pass the Storting.

The Minister of Justice describes the proposal as correct.

– The proposed ban is a new and important contribution to the protection of homosexuals from harmful action. The ban will be enforced in Norway. I hope this will contribute to change internationally and that Norway can become a model for other countries to follow with bans, Mehl said at the press conference.

Separate protection for children

According to the bill, children should be given special protection.

– People should be able to be themselves safely, without being subjected to shame or psychological pressure because of who they are or who they love. The bill makes it clear that these are actions we want to implement, says Trettebergstuen.

Criticism received

When the proposal went out for consultation last year, there was a lot of critical feedback, including from lawyers. In the proposal that is now presented, several legal technical changes have been made to respond to this, NTB is informed.

There has been particular skepticism about the impact of the ban on conversion therapy for consenting adults.

The government had first announced that the bill would be tabled in April. The proposal has met with some skepticism among members of the Center Party’s parliamentary caucus, but according to Our country they have accepted the proposal which is now presented.

[ – Er det slik vi skal dø? ]

[ Stopper vellykket plastprosjekt: – Meningsløst og en provokasjon ]