Finnish lawmakers on Friday approved a citizens' initiative calling on the government to draft legislation criminalising conversion "therapies" targeting LGBTQ people in the Nordic country.
The Finnish parliament voted in favour of a 2023 citizens' initiative signed by more than 50,000 people which demanded that the Finnish government start drafting legislation banning the practice.
So-called conversion practices or "therapy" imply methods aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of gay, lesbians, queer and trans people.
In Finland, the practices have mostly been conducted by members of religious communities, according to the LGBTQ rights organisation Seta.
A total of 125 MPs voted in favour of the proposal to begin drafting legislation, while 49 opposed it.
Finnish Justice Minister Leena Meri -- who represents the Finns Party, which opposes the law -- will now have to prepare and submit a proposal to parliament.
The United Nations has called for a global ban on conversion practices, describing them as discriminatory, humiliating and a violation of bodily integrity.
A growing number of countries have banned conversion practices, backed by opposition from health organisations such the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists as well as the Finnish Psychiatric Association and the Finnish Psychological Association.