Iceland - June 2023
Parliament passes conversion therapy ban
In a unanimous vote, Iceland’s parliament has approved legislation that bans conversion therapy related to sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity. The new legislation, proposed by the Reform Party MP Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, garnered broad cross-party support. There were no votes against the law, with 53 MPs voting in favour, three abstaining, and seven being absent. According to the legislation, which will take effect on 1 January 2024, individuals who carry out or subject adults or children to conversion therapies could face sentences ranging from two to five years in prison. The LGBTQIA+ community and rights groups in Iceland have welcomed the legislation.
Sources: High North News, Parliament of Iceland - Alþingi, Jurist, Pink News