The German parliament has passed a law banning what has become known as “gay conversion therapy” for young people nationwide.
The legislation is intended to stop groups offering their services, which claims to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation to those under the age of 18.
Those caught breaking the new law can face up to a year in prison, or a large fine of €30,000 ($32,535; £26,268).
Research suggests the controversial practice can lead to depression and increase the risk of suicide leading to the German parliament making the decision to ban the practice for minors.
Under the law, passed on Thursday evening, minors will not be allowed to take part in medical interventions aimed at changing or suppressing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Parents and legal guardians could also be punished for making their children take part through deception, coercion or threats if any of these cases do arise the law sets out clear guidelines for prosecution.
Conversion therapy practices can include hypnosis and electric shocks. However, experts in the field have claimed the word ‘therapy’ is misleading because there is no scientific basis for it at all.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn said a robust law was needed to protect it from court challenges, adding that most people who attended treatment were young people forced to do so by others.
Mr Spahn, who is gay himself said: “They should feel strengthened when the state, when society, when Parliament makes it clear: we do not want that in this country.”
Mr Spahn, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) party, first announced plans to ban the practice last June, and a bill was drafted in November.
Despite the law now being implemented, critics argue it does not go far enough. Germany’s opposition Green Party has called for the age limit to be raised to 26 and the Left Party wants it to be 27.
The practice is also outlawed in Switzerland and areas of Australia, Canada and the US.
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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