A/74/148 47. Building on the views expressed by his predecessors and the Committee Against Torture, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that both the marriage of children (A/HRC/31/57, paras. 63–64; and CAT/C/YEM/CO/2, para. 31) and forced marriage (e.g. CAT/C/SEN/CO/3, para. 14; and A/HRC/31/57, paras. 58 and 63–64) amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and, where it involves the intentional and purposeful or discriminatory infliction of severe pain or suffering on a powerless person, to torture. K. Forced “conversion therapy” 48. So-called “conversion therapy”, sometimes referred to as “reparative therapy”, describes a range of highly discredited practices that could involve electric shock, medication, psychotherapy or spiritual interventions or faith “healings”, that aim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Children are especially vulnerable to being subjected to such practices, in particular at the instigation of their parents or guardians, including through pressure or coercion. 53 The practice of “conversion therapy” has been rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization for decades, but due to continuing discrimination and societal bias against LGBTI people, remains widespread. Undergoing such so -called “therapy” can cause severe physical and mental suffering and lead to depress ion, anxiety, drug use, homelessness and suicide. 49. While the extent of the use of “conversion therapy” is not known, even conservative estimates suggest that many thousands of children and adults are being subjected to it in many parts of the world. 54 By the end of 2018, only three States Members of the United Nations had banned “conversion therapy”, although some efforts towards a national ban have been made at the subnational level in other States. 55 The practice of “conversion therapy” has been condemned by the Special Rapporteur (A/HRC/31/57, para. 48; and A/56/156, para. 24), as well as by the Committee against Torture (CAT/C/ECU/CO/7, paras. 49–50; and CAT/C/CHN/CO/5, paras. 55–56), the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (CAT/C/57/4, paras. 68–69) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/29/23, paras. 14, 38). 50. In the view of the Special Rapporteur, given that “conversion therapy” can inflict severe pain or suffering, given also the absence both of a medical justification and of free and informed consent, and that it is rooted in discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, such practices can amount to torture or, in the absence of one or more of those constitutive elements, to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. L. Reproductive coercion 51. Reproductive coercion is frequently perpetrated by intimate partners or the wider family and involves behaviour that interferes with contraceptive, pregnancy and other reproductive choices, including about continuing or terminating a pregnancy. Examples of reproductive coercion are intentional destruction or removal __________________ 53 54 55 16/23 C. Ryan et al, “Parent-Initiated Sexual Orientation Change Efforts with LGBT Adolescents: Implications for Young Adult Mental Health and Adjustment”, in Journal of Homosexuality, November 2018. See, for example, C. Mallory, T. Brown and K. Conron, “Conversion Therapy and LGBT Youth” (Williams Institute, 2018). International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, “State-Sponsored Homophobia 2019” (Geneva, 2019). 19-11892