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The following definition and notes, developed by the 问鼎娱乐 Government鈥檚 Working Group on Banning Conversion Practices, are solely for policy and campaign purposes and are not intended as a legal definition.

Draft definition

鈥楥onversion practices鈥�, sometimes known as 鈥榗onversion therapy鈥�, is used as an umbrella term to describe harmful interventions of a wide-ranging nature, all of which are premised on the misconception, or on the predetermined purpose, that a person鈥檚 sexual orientation and/or gender, including gender identity, can be changed, 鈥渃ured鈥�, or suppressed. For example, such practices are often aimed at effecting a change from gay, lesbian, or bisexual to heterosexual and/or from trans, non-binary, or gender diverse to cisgender. Depending on the context, the term is used for a multitude of practices and methods, some of which are clandestine and therefore poorly documented.

Note 1: affirmative care

Affirmative care is defined as approaches to healthcare delivery in which the providers recognise, validate and/or support a person鈥檚 gender identity and sexual orientation. These approaches would not fall within the definition of conversion practices because they do not seek to change, suppress and/or 鈥渃ure鈥� a person鈥檚 sexual orientation or gender identity.

The free exploration of gender identity and sexual orientation must not be impeded by a ban on conversion practices. Specifically, any ban must not negatively impact transgender, non-binary, or intersex individuals鈥� access to healthcare provisions and affirmative care.

Note 2: settings of conversion practices

Conversion practices have been reported in religious settings; family or domestic settings; and have been mistakenly labelled as 鈥渢herapy鈥� in mental health, psychiatric and other healthcare settings.

Religious, faith-based, or spiritual settings are often the most cited environments correlated to conversion practices. This would include spoken prayer that seeks to change, suppress and/or 鈥渃ure鈥� a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, directed at one individual or a group of individuals.