CAT/C/CHN/CO/5

China (CAT 03-02-2016)

The Committee against Torture considered the fifth periodic report of China (CAT/C/CHN/5) at its 1368th and 1371st meetings (CAT/C/SR.1368 and 1371), held on 17 and 18 November 2015, and adopted the present concluding observations at its 1391st and 1392nd meetings, held on 2 and 3 December 2015.

Concluding observations

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons

55. The Committee is concerned about reports that private and publicly run clinics offer the so-called “gay conversion therapy” to change the sexual orientation of lesbian and gay persons, and that such practices include the administration of electroshocks and, sometimes, involuntary confinement in psychiatric and other facilities, which could result in physical and psychological harm. While noting that, in December 2014, a Beijing court ordered one such clinic to pay compensation for such treatment, the Committee regrets the State party’s failure to clarify whether such practices are prohibited by law, have been investigated and ended, and whether the victims have received redress (arts. 10, 12, 14 and 16).

56. The State party should:

(a) Take the necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to guarantee respect for the autonomy and physical and personal integrity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and prohibit the practice of so-called “conversion therapy”, and other forced, involuntary or otherwise coercive or abusive treatments against them;

(b) Ensure that health professionals and public officials receive training on respecting the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, including their rights to autonomy and physical and psychological integrity;

(c) Undertake investigations of instances of forced, involuntary or otherwise coercive or abusive treatments of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and ensure adequate redress and compensation in such cases.