The DA has committed itself to the protection of the human rights of minors within the LGBTQI+ community, by calling for conversion therapy of minors to be banned.
On Thursday, 1 July 2021, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Shadow Minister of Health, Siviwe Gwarube, together with the DA LGBTQI+ community, announced that it will be submitting a Private Member’s Bill to prohibit the conversion therapy of minors. The party seeks to ensure that the practice of conversion therapy is declared illegal.
According to the DA, conversion therapy is a dangerous practice that focuses on the LGBTQI+ community, and falsely claims to change the sexual orientation of children. The current legislative framework under the Children’s Act does not prohibit this practice on children, nor does it consider it an offence. The opposition party believes that minors should not be subjected to this reprehensible practice, and is calling for it to be banned in the country.
The DA highlighted section 9 of the Constitution on the unfair treatment and discrimination against people’s sexual or gender orientation. It also emphasised the need for children within the LGBTQI+ community to be protected from the dangerous effects of the practice on the emotional and mental health of persons. The DA has committed to challenging human rights violations targeted at the LGBTQI+ community, further affirming that its activism will continue post Pride Month.
See the post below.
DA to submit Private Member’s Bill to prohibit LGBTQIA+ conversion therapy for children
(by @Siviwe_G MP – DA Shadow Minister of Health) pic.twitter.com/YujEb2qwYw— DA LGBTQ+🏳️🌈 (@DA_LGBTI) July 1, 2021
