The Swiss government says it supports creating a nationwide ban on so-called conversion therapy, signaling that federal legislation could soon replace the country’s current patchwork of regional rules.
A government report published last week examined the regulations currently used across Switzerland to address conversion therapy, including criminal and administrative measures already adopted or proposed by several cantons.
According to the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, the Federal Council said a national law could provide stronger and more consistent protections across the country.
Conversion therapy refers to practices that claim they can change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The practice has been widely rejected by major medical and mental health organizations, which have found no scientific evidence that a person’s LGBTQ+ identity can or should be changed.
Advocates have also warned for years that conversion practices can cause serious psychological harm, particularly among young LGBTQ+ people.
Switzerland currently does not have one federal law specifically banning conversion therapy nationwide. Instead, protections vary depending on the canton, leaving different rules in place depending on where someone lives.
Several cantons have already taken steps toward restricting or banning the practice, while others have considered legislation of their own. That uneven approach has led LGBTQ+ advocates to push for a federal standard that would apply throughout the country.
The government report also considered whether existing Swiss laws already provide enough protection against conversion practices. Some instances could potentially be prosecuted under existing criminal, health care or professional regulations, particularly when coercion, abuse, or medical misconduct is involved.
Still, the Federal Council acknowledged that a specific national law could make the rules clearer and provide more consistent protection.
A federal ban could also help establish a clearer definition of what qualifies as conversion therapy and determine which professionals or organizations would be subject to penalties.
Lawmakers will now have to consider what the legislation would include, who would be covered and whether protections would apply differently to minors and adults.
The move comes as governments around the world continue to reconsider the legality of conversion therapy.
A growing number of countries, states and local governments have restricted or banned the practice, with many laws focusing specifically on licensed professionals who attempt to perform conversion therapy on minors.
Supporters of nationwide bans argue that regional restrictions are not enough because they can create loopholes and leave LGBTQ+ people with different levels of protection depending on where they live.
For Switzerland, federal legislation could eliminate those differences and establish one national standard.
While no final law has been passed yet, the Federal Council’s support marks another step toward a potential nationwide ban and signals that the issue is likely to remain on Switzerland’s legislative agenda.
