The director of the Civil Rights Commission (CDC), Ever Padilla Ruiz, endorsed the legislative measure banning conversion therapies, which will go on public view this Wednesday and Friday according to the legislative calendar.
“We start from the universal principle that minors have the right to have their dignity recognized, respected and protected. Respect for the dignity of the human person begins with the recognition of their existence, their autonomy and “That is why it is considered inviolable. It is considered the foundation from which all human rights derive. This measure is aimed at this and that is why we must be in favor of its approval,” he stressed. Padilla Ruiz alluding to the Senate Bill 184 that seeks to amend the Puerto Rico Mental Health Act and the Child Safety, Welfare and Protection Act to expand the physical and mental health protections of minors. age, by prohibiting the practice of conversion therapy.
According to Padilla Ruiz, violence is the most serious social emergency Puerto Rico is experiencing today. “Every year, hundreds of girls and boys are abused. Protecting them from any form of abuse or neglect that comes from their parents or the people who care for them is critical to stopping this spiral that produces effects. “Legislation needs to be tempered to protect them from violence in all its manifestations and that is the responsibility of the state,” the CDC director said.
The Charter of the Rights of the Child (Law No. 338-1998) recognizes the responsibility of the Government of Puerto Rico to foster the maximum social and emotional development of childhood. It also recognizes that minors have equal rights to life and happiness as adults. It is public policy that children and adolescents are understood and cared for in their capacity as integral people, with their needs, rights and aspirations. As subjects of law, children have the right to grow up in harmony based on respect for their human dignity.
“Conversion therapies are interventions typically aimed at gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people. In the 21st century, the idea persists that homosexuality is a disease that can be cured and has harmful and destructive repercussions. “The United Nations has recognized that conversion therapies are a torture for the LGBTTIQ community. These conversion therapies have been identified by the vast majority of global professional organizations as ineffective and psychosocially harmful,” the paper said. of the Commission.
The director of the CDC has insisted that diverse communities in their sexuality in Puerto Rico have been the target of prejudice, discrimination, marginalization and violence. “These communities have been the target of political and social invisibility for a long time. This scenario obviously creates a landscape of disparities that impact the lives of these communities. It is impossible to guarantee human rights within the context of exclusion. , stigma, prejudice, violence and abuse “.
He has claimed that there are ‘horror stories’ of people who have undergone these so-called therapies to cure homosexuality and develop heterosexuality. People affected and terrified by economic pressure and / or the rejection of their own families have been exposed to this violence. Through counseling, reading Bible passages, group conversations disguised as self-help therapies, and a whole host of ploys, they hurt, sow hatred and homophobia, cause post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, social maladaptation, confusion, and even have. led to people committing suicide. “There is no research, no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of conversion therapies.”
“Diversity in sexual orientations, identities and expressions must not be an obstacle to anyone’s happiness or to the recognition and respect for their dignity,” concluded Padilla Ruiz in the paper submitted to the Committee on Community Initiatives. Mental Health and Addiction of the Senate chaired by José Vargas Vidot.