• Government launches consultation on how to make coercive conversion therapies illegal
• Proposed new laws will protect LGBT people, and especially under 18s, ensuring individuals cannot promote or profit from this harmful practice
• Government to fund support for victims of conversion therapy, including helpline

In May this year, Truss announced her intention to introduce a legislative ban on the practice of conversion therapy, which seeks to change people’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The 6-week government consultation on how to legislate for such a ban, launched today, is the next step in that process. Throughout the summer further engagement was carried out with victims of conversion therapy, many of whom detailed the negative impacts on their mental health, and key stakeholders.

The government’s proposals to ban conversion therapy in England and Wales include:

• Ensuring physical conversion therapy acts are sentenced appropriately and introducing a new offence for so-called talking conversion therapies
• Ensuring those found guilty of conversion therapy offences have any profit they obtained from those crimes removed, and strengthening the case for individuals to be disqualified from holding a senior role in a charity where they are convicted of a conversion therapy offence
• Introducing Conversion Therapy Protection Orders to protect potential victims from undergoing the practice, including abroad – this could include removing passports of potential victims, who are at risk of being taken overseas for conversion therapy
• Exploring further measures to prevent the promotion of conversion therapy

The consultation will allow individuals to express their views on these proposals, presenting a vital opportunity for the public and key stakeholders to work with the government to develop an effective ban.

Once the consultation has closed, the responses will inform further refinements to the proposals. The government will prepare and introduce legislation by spring 2022.

Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, said: 

“There should be no place for the abhorrent practice of coercive conversion therapy in our society.

“Today we are publishing detailed proposals that will stop appalling conversion therapies and make sure LGBT people can live their lives free from the threat of harm or abuse.

“As we build back better from the pandemic, I want everyone to be able to love who they want and be themselves. Today’s announcement sets out how we will ban an archaic practice that has no place in modern life.”

Growing international evidence suggests that there is a strong link between conversion therapy and serious psychological harm. The government will make funding available to support victims of conversion therapy practices, making sure that those who need help can access it. In November, a competitive tendering process for a new government-funded support service for victims and those at risk of conversion therapy will be launched.

Minister for Equalities, Mike Freer, said:

“Everybody should be safe to be themselves at home, in the workplace and going about their daily lives. That is why we have set out these proposals to ban coercive conversion therapy and stop it impacting on the lives of people in this country.

“Input from victims and stakeholder groups will be vital and I urge everyone to have their say, making sure the ban puts an end to these practices, once and for all.”

Whilst violent forms of conversion therapy are already covered under other offences, the proposals that have been presented today would make all coercive conversion therapies illegal, making sure that where conversion therapy is the motive for violence, judges consider it as a potential aggravating factor when sentencing.

The government is also keen to safeguard under 18s, who are often targeted at a young age due to their vulnerability. Future laws will therefore place a particularly strong emphasis on preventing children undergoing any practices considered to be conversion therapies.

The proposals will also ensure that regulated clinicians are protected and are able to continue to undertake their valuable work. The ban will not seek to restrain these medical professionals and individuals should be free to seek out professional help and guidance, it will however target practices which people have not willingly agreed to undertake.

Alongside the proposed legislation for a specific ban, the Equality Hub will work across government to explore ways to prevent the promotion of conversion therapies in this country. This includes working with DCMS and others to consider vehicles to prevent online promotion.

Further Information:

• The government would like to hear from everyone with an opinion on how we should introduce the ban and urge those with an interest and particularly those with experience of conversion therapy to come forward.
• The government committed to banning conversion therapy in the Queen’s Speech.
• A Conversion Therapy Protection Order will set out certain conditions to protect a person from undergoing the practice, including removing a passport for those under risk of being taken abroad or any requirement that the court considers necessary to protect the person for whose protection the order is made.
• The government will work closely with devolved administrations in order to protect people from conversion therapy across the UK
• The consultation will run for six weeks, closing on 10 December.
• Alongside the consultation a research report on the impact of conversion therapy, completed by Coventry University, will be published.

• Los siete países restantes serán eliminados de la lista roja del Reino Unido de acuerdo con el consejo de salud pública.
• Los hoteles de la lista roja y de cuarentena seguirán funcionando como la primera defensa del Reino Unido contra las variantes de interés (VOC por sus siglas en inglés) y las actualizaciones se realizarán cada 3 semanas.
• Más de 30 destinos se agregan al sistema de arribo de personas vacunadas en tanto continuamos reabriendo de manera segura los viajes internacionales.

A partir de las 4 de la mañana del lunes 1 de noviembre, los 7 destinos que permanecían en la lista roja serán removidos: Colombia, República Dominicana, Ecuador, Haití, Panamá, Perú y Venezuela.

Los pasajeros que regresen a Inglaterra desde estos destinos ya no tendrán que realizar cuarentena en un hotel. La lista roja y la política de hoteles de cuarentena se mantienen y seguirán actuando como una línea de defensa crucial contra la importación de variantes. Revisaremos la lista roja cada 3 semanas e impondremos restricciones en caso de que sea necesario con el fin de proteger la salud pública.

Delta es actualmente la variante dominante en la mayoría de los países del mundo. Esto significa que el riesgo de que las variantes conocidas entren en el Reino Unido se ha reducido y el Gobierno puede eliminar con confianza estos 7 destinos de la lista roja, con base en la información brindada gracias a la evaluación de la Agencia de Seguridad Sanitaria del Reino Unido (UKHSA por sus siglas en inglés). Los datos de todos los países y territorios se mantendrán en revisión, incluyendo la aparición de nuevas variantes, y el Gobierno del Reino Unido no dudará en implementar medidas cuando cambie el panorama epidemiológico.

A partir del lunes, los viajeros elegibles con prueba aceptada de vacunación de más de 30 países y territorios, incluyendo Argentina, Tanzania y Camboya, también serán calificados bajo las reglas de vacunación completa para viajar al Reino Unido. Esto eleva el número total de países y territorios cubiertos por la política de reconocimiento de vacunación a más de 135.

El ministro de Transporte, Grant Shapps, dijo:

Este es otro paso en la dirección correcta para los viajes internacionales con nuevas buenas noticias para los pasajeros, las empresas y el sector de los viajes. Continuamos logrando grandes avances a medida que nos recuperamos de la pandemia y hoy es otro ejemplo de lo lejos que hemos llegado.

Ya sea para reunir a miembros de la familia o facilitar el comercio de las empresas, el éxito de la implementación de la vacuna tanto en el país como en el extranjero nos ha permitido alcanzar este hito. Sin embargo, no debemos ser complacientes y permanecer dispuestos a entrar en acción y defender nuestros logros, obtenidos con tanto esfuerzo, si es necesario.

El ministro de Salud y Asistencia Social, Sajid Javid, dijo:

Me alegro de que podamos reducir aún más las restricciones, lo que da un gran impulso a las empresas, las familias y los amigos que desean viajar.

La lista roja y la cuarentena siguen siendo vitales para proteger nuestras fronteras: mantenemos una pequeña cantidad de espacios de cuarentena en espera y no dudaremos en tomar medidas rápidas agregando países a la lista roja si el riesgo aumenta nuevamente.

Con el número de destinos en la lista roja disminuyendo en los últimos meses, el Gobierno del Reino Unido ha reducido la cantidad de habitaciones de hotel para cuarentena requeridas, que refleja una menor demanda de los pasajeros y ofrece un mejor valor para el contribuyente británico. Un número de habitaciones de hotel permanecen en espera si el Gobierno necesita responder rápidamente a un mayor riesgo de otro país o territorio y reintroducir el servicio de cuarentena administrada para los pasajeros de la lista roja.

Los científicos del Gobierno continuarán monitoreando de cerca las variantes de interés para garantizar que el enfoque del Reino Unido siga siendo adecuado. El Gobierno continuará manteniendo la vigilancia mediante pruebas.

Los pasajeros elegibles completamente vacunados y la mayoría de los menores de 18 años que llegan a Inglaterra desde países que no figuran en la lista roja han podido utilizar desde el 24 de octubre una prueba lateral flow test más barata después de la llegada, con una prueba de PCR confirmatoria gratuita si reciben un resultado positivo en primera instancia. Los pasajeros que lleguen a Escocia, Gales e Irlanda del Norte a partir del 31 de octubre también podrán optar por realizar una prueba lateral flow test en lugar de una prueba PCR.

Todas las personas que arriban deberán completar un formulario de localización de pasajeros antes del viaje. Los viajeros deben seguir consultando la guía de viaje de GOV.UK, incluidos los consejos de viaje del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Mancomunidad y Desarrollo (FCDO) antes, durante y después del viaje para mantenerse al día con los requisitos de entrada. Se recomienda a los pasajeros que también continúen verificando cuidadosamente las condiciones de reserva antes de comprar boletos.

Thank you, Mr President, and my thanks to our distinguished briefers.

Cooperation between the UN and the African Union is vital to achieving a safer, greener, healthier, more open and more resilient continent.

I would like to make four key points in this respect.

Firstly, Mr President, I want to underline the importance of collaboration to promote and consolidate democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law.

On Sudan the United Kingdom continues to be an advocate for democratic transition. I condemn in the strongest terms the coup by the Sudanese military this week, including arrests of civilian leaders and killing of protesters. The military’s acts represent a betrayal of the Sudanese people and their journey to democracy. I welcome the swift action of the AU Peace and Security Council to suspend Sudan. This demonstrates clear and firm African leadership, and I am pleased that the Security Council has also spoken with one voice today on this issue. Together, this sends a powerful message to the military, that they cannot unilaterally unpick the 2019 Constitutional Declaration. They cannot cherry-pick which civilians they will work with. This is simply not how democracy works Secondly, I want to emphasise the importance of UN-AU coordination in promoting political solutions to conflict. I commend the joint efforts to deliver this, especially across the Sahel region through the UNSC visit to Mali and Niger.

The situation in Northern Ethiopia is unacceptable. I am horrified by the humanitarian impacts. More than five million people in Tigray require urgent aid, but less than 10% of humanitarian needs are being met.
There are continuing credible reports of the abhorrent use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. We are supporting life-saving efforts on the ground, and I reiterate our calls on all sides for an immediate ceasefire, urgent humanitarian access involving road as well as air corridors, and dialogue.
The AU signalled the desire to make progress through the appointment of AU Special Envoy Obasanjo to promote dialogue between the parties to the conflict in Tigray. We cannot wait for a ceasefire to address the humanitarian situation. We need to step these efforts up. It is absolutely vital that they yield results.

Thirdly, Mr President, let me emphasise the importance we attach to the AU’s role in peace operations.

I pay tribute to the efforts of those countries contributing police and troops to the African Union Mission to Somalia. We look forward to receiving the joint UN-AU proposal for an AU-led successor mission. This must be based on a model, which is supported by all key stakeholders, including the Somalis.

Finally, Mr President, I want to note the importance of the UN-AU partnership in tackling global challenges to Africa’s peace and stability, and working towards a more stable, prosperous future. On my recent visit to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, I saw first-hand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

The UK is supporting African responses to these challenges. We are one of the leading donors to COVAX, which has helped 44 AMC African countries to access around 110 million vaccine doses. We will continue supporting this vital work.

We are also working with the AU to support its Green Recovery Action Plan, and to showcase African climate action at COP26 in Glasgow.

We are providing technical assistance for the African Continental Free Trade Area. The UK was the first non-African country to sign a partnership agreement. It offers huge opportunities –and when fully implemented could lead to a 33% increase in intra-African trade.

And we are supporting empowerment of African women and girls, including through education. Educating and empowering girls is essential if countries are to realise their full potential.

The Global Education Summit, which Prime Minister Johnson was honoured to co-host with Kenya in July, raised a record $4 billion, including a UK pledge of $600 million. That will enable 88 million more children to attend school by 2025, including many million girls in Africa.

The UN-AU partnership is a crucial platform for all these efforts. It will continue to have the UK’s full support.

Thank you, Mr President.

Thank you, Mr President, and my thanks to our distinguished briefers.

Cooperation between the UN and the African Union is vital to achieving a safer, greener, healthier, more open and more resilient continent.

I would like to make four key points in this respect.

Firstly, Mr President, I want to underline the importance of collaboration to promote and consolidate democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law.

On Sudan the United Kingdom continues to be an advocate for democratic transition. I condemn in the strongest terms the coup by the Sudanese military this week, including arrests of civilian leaders and killing of protesters. The military’s acts represent a betrayal of the Sudanese people and their journey to democracy. I welcome the swift action of the AU Peace and Security Council to suspend Sudan. This demonstrates clear and firm African leadership, and I am pleased that the Security Council has also spoken with one voice today on this issue. Together, this sends a powerful message to the military, that they cannot unilaterally unpick the 2019 Constitutional Declaration. They cannot cherry-pick which civilians they will work with. This is simply not how democracy works Secondly, I want to emphasise the importance of UN-AU coordination in promoting political solutions to conflict. I commend the joint efforts to deliver this, especially across the Sahel region through the UNSC visit to Mali and Niger.

The situation in Northern Ethiopia is unacceptable. I am horrified by the humanitarian impacts. More than five million people in Tigray require urgent aid, but less than 10% of humanitarian needs are being met.
There are continuing credible reports of the abhorrent use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. We are supporting life-saving efforts on the ground, and I reiterate our calls on all sides for an immediate ceasefire, urgent humanitarian access involving road as well as air corridors, and dialogue.
The AU signalled the desire to make progress through the appointment of AU Special Envoy Obasanjo to promote dialogue between the parties to the conflict in Tigray. We cannot wait for a ceasefire to address the humanitarian situation. We need to step these efforts up. It is absolutely vital that they yield results.

Thirdly, Mr President, let me emphasise the importance we attach to the AU’s role in peace operations.

I pay tribute to the efforts of those countries contributing police and troops to the African Union Mission to Somalia. We look forward to receiving the joint UN-AU proposal for an AU-led successor mission. This must be based on a model, which is supported by all key stakeholders, including the Somalis.

Finally, Mr President, I want to note the importance of the UN-AU partnership in tackling global challenges to Africa’s peace and stability, and working towards a more stable, prosperous future. On my recent visit to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, I saw first-hand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

The UK is supporting African responses to these challenges. We are one of the leading donors to COVAX, which has helped 44 AMC African countries to access around 110 million vaccine doses. We will continue supporting this vital work.

We are also working with the AU to support its Green Recovery Action Plan, and to showcase African climate action at COP26 in Glasgow.

We are providing technical assistance for the African Continental Free Trade Area. The UK was the first non-African country to sign a partnership agreement. It offers huge opportunities –and when fully implemented could lead to a 33% increase in intra-African trade.

And we are supporting empowerment of African women and girls, including through education. Educating and empowering girls is essential if countries are to realise their full potential.

The Global Education Summit, which Prime Minister Johnson was honoured to co-host with Kenya in July, raised a record $4 billion, including a UK pledge of $600 million. That will enable 88 million more children to attend school by 2025, including many million girls in Africa.

The UN-AU partnership is a crucial platform for all these efforts. It will continue to have the UK’s full support.

Thank you, Mr President.