Menu
Log in



PATHSA endorses the Johannesburg Declaration Against SOGIE Change Efforts and Conversion Practices

12/05/2023 19:50 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

PATHSA has endorsed this declaration:

The Johannesburg Declaration Against SOGIE Change Efforts and Conversion Practices

We, the undersigned mental health professionals from across Africa who attended the convening “Meeting of minds: The role of mental health practitioners and associations in eradicating conversion practices in Africa”, recognizing the historic and ongoing harm that some mental health professionals have committed, continue to commit, and/or are coerced into committing, regarding the use and endorsement of efforts to change people’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression (SOGIE), through so-called reparative therapies and conversion practices more broadly, declare that any attempt to change a person’s SOGIE should have no place in professional mental health practices.

We declare that all efforts to change people’s SOGIE:     

  • Are unnecessary, harmful and traumatic; 
  • Are human rights abuses, forms of gender-based violence and, in some instances, torture;
  • Are unscientific, not rooted in authoritative scholarly theories of sexuality and/or gender, and not proven to be efficacious;
  • Are unethical and in breach of internationally accepted professional codes of ethics;
  • Go against all contemporary and accepted best practices in mental healthcare; and
  • Must be unequivocally rejected in the interests of human rights, health and wellbeing.

Developed at a convening of mental health professionals and allies hosted by the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, during 20-21 April 2023.



About PATHSA

PATHSA is an interdisciplinary health professional organisation working to promote the health, wellbeing and self-actualisation of trans and gender diverse people.


Copyright © PATHSA 2023

Contact

info@pathsa.org.za
South Africa

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software