Swiss government backs nationwide conversion therapy ban

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Swiss government backs nationwide conversion therapy ban

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2026/09/04/swiss-government-backs-nationwide-conversion-therapy-ban/ 🔗

Michael K. Lavers (4 Sep 2026)

The Swiss government has said it supports a nationwide ban on so-called conversion therapy.

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation on its website notes the government officially announced its position in a report it published on Wednesday.

Neuchâtel in 2023 became the first Swiss canton to ban conversion therapy.

Lawmakers in Valais and Vaud have also prohibited the widely discredited practice in their respective cantons. Bern and Geneva are among the other cantons in which lawmakers have considered similar prohibitions.

The European Commission earlier this year said all European Union countries should ban conversion therapy.

Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but lawmakers in neighboring Germany in 2020 passed a law that prohibits conversion therapy for minors and for adults who have not consented to undergoing the widely discredited practice.

Several EU countries — Belgium, Cyprus, France, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and Spain — have banned conversion therapy outright.

The Dutch Senate in June approved a bill that would ban conversion therapy in the Netherlands. The lower house of the country's parliament approved the measure in September 2025.

Greece in 2022 banned conversion therapy for minors.
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@Sarah B

[Devlyn ✅]

👏👏👏

[Sarah B ✅]

Hi Everyone

For Australia: 5 of Australia's 8 states and territories have some form of legislative ban, although Queensland's is substantially narrower.

State / Territory	Status	Main law / position
Victoria	✓ Banned	Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021. In force since 17 February 2022.
New South Wales	✓ Banned	Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024. Ban commenced 4 April 2025.
South Australia	✓ Banned	Conversion Practices Prohibition Act 2024. In force from 1 April 2025.
Australian Capital Territory	✓ Banned	Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Act 2020. Main provisions commenced 4 March 2021.
Queensland	! Limited ban	Queensland law prohibits health service providers from performing conversion therapy. The law is narrower than the Victorian or New South Wales regimes.
Western Australia	✗ No express ban yet	The Western Australian Government has committed to banning conversion practices but legislation has been under development.
Tasmania	✗ No express ban yet	A draft Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill was released for consultation in 2026 but conversion practices are not currently expressly prohibited.
Northern Territory	✗ No express ban	No specific Northern Territory legislation expressly bans conversion or suppression practices.

The Australian Human Rights Commission's 2026 review confirms that ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria have legislation banning conversion or suppression practices in certain contexts while Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not expressly prohibit them.  It also notes the absence of a federal law covering the issue nationally.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Allie Jayne @VictoriasSecret @Petunia