(Photo by feofan4ik via Bigstock)
HELSINKI, Finland | Lawmakers in Finland will consider a ban on so-called conversion therapy after a successful citizens’ initiative.
The Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) reported Perttu Jussila launched the initiative in July.
At least 50,000 people needed to support the initiative in order for MPs to consider the issue. The initiative as of Aug. 31 had been signed by 52,721 people.
“It’s insane that conversion treatments have not been banned yet,” Jussila told YLE, while noting Prime Minister Sanna Marin has pledged to end conversion therapy in Finland. “A couple of years have passed now since the government was established, and nothing has really happened. The EU has condemned conversion therapies in its policy, and Malta already banned the treatments in 2016. I simply came to the conclusion that the issue wouldn’t be addressed without a citizens’ initiative.”
Malta is among the handful of countries that ban conversion therapy.
New Zealand Justice Minister Kris Faafoi, who is a member of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Labor Party, in July introduced a bill that would ban conversion therapy in the country. The Canadian Senate later this year is expected to debate an identical measure.
German lawmakers last year approved a bill that banned conversion therapy for minors in the country. Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and California are among the U.S. jurisdictions that also prohibit the practice.
