A/HRC/44/53 commitment to prohibit their promotion or practice by health professionals in its national strategy on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex young people.176 D. National human rights institutions and equality bodies 82. National human rights institutions can contribute to preventing violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Ombudsperson of Peru stated that practices of “conversion therapy” constituted an unjustified and unethical practice and must be denounced and sanctioned 177 and, in Ecuador, the Office of the Ombudsman has developed a framework providing lines of action and coordination in case of alleged human rights violations related to those practices, including complaints, comprehensive protection and social care, investigation and sanctions and reparations.178 VII. Conclusions and recommendations 83. Practices of “conversion therapy”, based on the incorrect and harmful notion that sexual and gender diversity are disorders to be corrected, are discriminatory in nature. Furthermore, actions to subject lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or gender-diverse persons to practices of “conversion therapy” are by their very nature degrading, inhuman and cruel and create a significant risk of torture. States must examine specific cases in the light of the international, regional and local framework on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and/or punishment. 84. Perpetrators of abuse through practices of “conversion therapy” include private and public mental health-care providers, faith-based organizations, traditional healers and State agents; promoters additionally include family and community members, political authorities and other agents. 85. Under the conditions established by international human rights law and the international framework on torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, practices of “conversion therapy” may engage the international responsibility of the State. 86. Practices of “conversion therapy” provoke profound psychological and physical damage in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or gender-diverse persons of all ages, in all regions of the world. 87. In view of the foregoing, the Independent Expert recommends that States: (a) Ban the practices of “conversion therapy” as described in the present report, including by: (i) Clearly establishing, through appropriate legal or administrative means, a definition of prohibited practices of “conversion therapy”, and ensuring that public funds are not used, directly or indirectly, to support them; (ii) Banning practices of “conversion therapy” from being advertised and carried out in health-care, religious, education, community, commercial or any other settings, public or private; (iii) Establishing a system of sanctions for non-compliance with the ban on practices of “conversion therapy”, commensurate with their gravity, including in particular, that claims should be promptly investigated and, if relevant, prosecuted and punished, under the parameters established under the international human rights obligations pertaining to the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 176 177 178 Submission by Ireland. Submission by PROMSEX. Submission by Ecuador. 21