Malta could become the first European country to criminalise so-called gay conversion therapies following the first reading this week of a Bill to outlaw the controversial practice.

The Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression Bill will make it illegal to advertise or perform conversion therapy, with or without a person’s consent, or to refer someone to a professional for such therapy. Anyone falling foul of the proposed law would be subject to a fine of up to €10,000 or imprisonment of up to a year, with higher fines when the person subjected to the treatment is vulnerable or a minor.

Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli told the Times of Malta yesterday the aim of the Bill was to protect individuals against harmful practices.

“The Bill is crafted in such a way as to stop abuse of power through the offering of bogus treatments and protects vulnerable individuals from involuntarily availing themselves of such therapy,” she said.

The issue of conversion therapy came to the fore earlier this year following claims that the practice was being performed in Malta. Conversion therapy has already been banned in four US states and similar legislation is being considered in the UK.

The practice is based on the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disorder that can be changed or suppressed through psychological treatment. However, there is no evidence that it is valid or effective and scientific consensus is that it can cause serious psychological harm. The government’s proposals are open for public consultation until January 15, with the Bill expected to be debated in Parliament immediately after.

When contacted, Nationalist Party civil liberties spokesman Jason Azzopardi declined to comment on the proposals, saying the issue would first have to be discussed in the PN parliamentary group.