France, May 14 -- Instead of proposing legislation across all 27 member states, the European Commission on Wednesday said it would recommend that governments introduce their own bans - a strategy Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told RFI was the fastest and most realistic path to action.

"To adopt binding legislation, unanimity would have been needed anyway," Lahbib said.

"Rather than plunging into discussions that could have taken 10, 15 or even 18 years, we preferred this recommendation because we are convinced it will be much more effective." 'Shameful' practice

Conversion practices seek to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity through sometimes violent methods.

United Nations experts have called for a worldwide...