Arm of the World Health Organization Takes Stance Against Reparative Therapy
The group is part of the World Health Organization, representing WHO in the Americas.
BY Neal Broverman
May 18 2012 6:30 PM ET
http://www.advocate.com/health/2012/05/18/world-health-organization-affiliate-discredits-exgay-therapy-and-urges-nationsThe Pan American Health Organization came out strongly against "ex-gay" programs that attempt to turn gay people straight.
The PAHO is the oldest public health organization in the world, and the group serves as the World Health Organization's representative for North and South America. On Thursday, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, PAHO issued a statement saying that reparative therapy is not only dangerous, but should be banned by the world's governments.
"These practices are unjustifiable and should be denounced and subject to sanctions and penalties under national legislation," PAHO director Dr. Mirta Roses Periago said in the statement. "These supposed conversion therapies constitute a violation of the ethical principles of health care and violate human rights that are protected by international and regional agreements."