How to respond to the consultation on how to end 'conversion therapy'?
Here are a few bullet points that we at KeshetUK think are important to consider in your response. At the bottom of the page there is also a link to another organisation that has put together thorough advice on how to respond to the consultation. Please note that KeshetUK cannot guarantee or endorse their content, though we hope you will find it useful. The consultation is now open and closes on Friday 4 February.
If you already know what you want to say or feel more confident after reading this page, you can click here to respond directly to the consultation.
Banning so-called 'conversion therapy' in religious settings
Consent
Ensuring a ban when so-called 'conversion therapy' practices are carried out remotely.
If you already know what you want to say or feel more confident after reading this page, you can click here to respond directly to the consultation.
Banning so-called 'conversion therapy' in religious settings
- We know that over half of so-called 'conversion therapy' practices in the UK happen in religious settings. Where relevant, please ensure you state how you think this should be banned in religious settings. KeshetUK has heard the anxiety that this may limit someone's ability to ask advice from their Rabbi or to be prayed for. KeshetUK recognises this concern, but does not believe that a ban would prevent appropriate rabbinic advice or support, or for people to ask to be included in others’ prayers. There are already examples of limits put on what can and cannot happen in religious settings and what advice can be given. Given the data on how frequently 'conversion therapy' happens in religious settings (see statistic here), it's important that these practices are explicitly banned by the Government.
Consent
- Currently there is a suggestion that ‘conversion therapy’ would not be outlawed for adults who have given their consent. Having spoken to many survivors of so-called ‘conversion therapy’, KeshetUK is clear that so-called ‘conversion therapy’ is an inherently abusive and harmful practice that people cannot consent to, as is already the law for certain other harmful practices. Many of the people KeshetUK has spoken to report feeling at the time of undergoing it they did 'consent' to ‘conversion therapy’. However, all of them now have experienced long-term damaging consequences as a result, and realised they weren't told the truth about the long-term outcomes. When there is such strong evidence that these practices only harm and do not help people, the Government needs to ensure that ‘conversion therapy’ is not allowed under any circumstances.
- Additionally, KeshetUK knows others who have been pressured by their families to take part in 'conversion therapy' practices in order to continue being accepted into their family and community. Even though at times it may seem like people are freely consenting, in practice external social and cultural pressures invalidate this consent.
Ensuring a ban when so-called 'conversion therapy' practices are carried out remotely.
- We know that many people in the UK travel abroad or engage remotely in ‘conversion therapy’ KeshetUK would like the Government to consider ways they could protect people from this.
Support whilst filling out your consultation response
The Ban Conversion Therapy website has created a helpful guide on how to respond to the consultation, which you can find by clicking here. Please note this is an external website and organisation, and KeshetUK cannot guarantee or necessarily endorse everything there. We hope you will find it a useful prompt, and you might want read it and have their page open as a template whilst filling out the response.
