Ávarp í umræðu um réttindi hinsegin fólks

HRC44

Thank you Madam President,

Allow me at the outset to thank the Independent Expert for his work and for the important report. Iceland is a firm advocate of LGBTI-rights and of your mandate.

We are thankful to the Independent Expert for drawing attention to the uneven impact of the ongoing public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the particular and unique effect on those who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including LGBTI persons.

Madam President,

Last year the Icelandic Parliament passed new legislation on gender self-identification, granting individuals over the age of fifteen the right to register their self-identified gender. In addition to ensuring the rights to gender self-identification, without specific requirements such as medical diagnosis or medical intervention, the legislation is also intended to protect the right to bodily integrity.

Conversion therapy goes against the spirit of this law. We would therefore like to thank the Independent Expert for drawing attention to this harmful practice and its different manifestations. Iceland stands firmly against such practices and will examine your report in detail.

Mr. Independent Expert, in the absence of a specific legislative ban on conversion therapy, what type of existing legislations can be used to tackle this practice?

I thank you.