Show Notes
🎙️ Peaked Inside the StrasBorg: The Council of Europe and the Conversion Therapy Ban Resolution Host: Róisín Michaux Guest: Annette Pacey
Episode Overview In this episode of Peaked, I speak with Annette Pacey about what happened inside the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe during the recent vote on a resolution calling for a Europe-wide ban on "conversion practices." Our conversation examines how resolutions are developed within the Council of Europe, how political groups coordinate amendments and voting strategy, and why attendance and procedural dynamics can determine the outcome of controversial measures. Rather than focusing only on rhetoric, we explore how language such as "conversion therapy" functions in law and policy, how gender identity has been embedded into European human rights frameworks, and why relatively obscure institutions like PACE can shape national legislation across 46 member states.
Key Topics Discussed · The structure and function of the Council of Europe versus the European Union · The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and its political groups · The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination · The resolution "For a ban on conversion practices" and its legislative trajectory · The role of rapporteurs, including UK MP Kate Osborne · Political group strategy, amendments, and voting coordination · Attendance patterns and procedural dynamics in Strasbourg · The distinction between sexual orientation and gender identity in law · The concept of "affirmation" in policy frameworks · The broader impact of Council of Europe resolutions on national legislation
About the Guest Annette Pacey is a writer and policy commentator affiliated with Athena Forum, a European network focused on evidence-based policy and sex-based rights. She attended the January 2026 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, where she engaged directly with delegates across political groups regarding the draft resolution on conversion practices. Annette speaks in a personal capacity in this episode and reflects on her observations of institutional process, political negotiation, and advocacy dynamics inside PACE.
Institutional Context: The Council of Europe and PACE The Council of Europe is a pan-European intergovernmental organization founded in 1949 and headquartered in Strasbourg, France. It currently has 46 member states and is distinct from the European Union. 🔗 Council of Europe — Official Website https://www.coe.int The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is composed of sitting national parliamentarians from member states. Delegates are not directly elected to PACE but are appointed from their domestic parliaments. 🔗 Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) https://pace.coe.int Political groups within PACE include: · SOC — Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group · EPP/CD — Group of the European People's Party · ALDE — Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe · EC/DA — European Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance · UEL — Unified European Left 🔗 Political Groups Overview https://pace.coe.int/en/pages/political-groups
The Conversion Practices Resolution The episode centers on the resolution titled: "For a ban on conversion practices" The report was prepared by Kate Osborne MP (UK, Labour), serving as rapporteur for the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination. 🔗 Resolution Text and Report (Doc. 16315) https://pace.coe.int/en/files/35742 The resolution calls on member states to: · Introduce legislative bans on conversion practices · Provide criminal sanctions where appropriate · Prohibit so-called "conversion practices" affecting sexual orientation and gender identity · Implement awareness campaigns and support mechanisms As discussed in the episode, Council of Europe resolutions are not binding law. However, they are frequently cited as human rights standards and can influence national legi
More from Peaked
Show notes (AI generated) Episode Overview In this episode of Peaked, Róisín Michaux speaks with journalist and author Jo Bartosch about the growing influence of online pornography on culture, politics, gender identity, and sexual behaviour. The discussion centres around Jo's forthcoming book Pornocracy, exploring how internet pornography has evolved into a powerful cultural force extending far beyond individual consumption. Together they examine pornography's relationship with gender ideology, autogynephilia, gynandromorphophilia (GAMP), online radicalisation, algorithmic recommendation systems, Reddit "egg" communities, fetish culture, masculinity, female objectification, and the changing attitudes of younger generations towards women. The conversation also explores the historical roots of cross-dressing, WPATH, Genevieve Gluck's investigative work, Scottish Government funding, Stephen Ireland's criminal case, and recent legal developments in France concerning violent pornography.
Albanians have reason to trust Brussels more than they trust Tirana. Interview with Esmeralda Petrela.
A backlash and a breakthrough: behind the scenes in Belfast with Nora Calder.
There's no weekly newsletter this week because I've been travelling to Belfast and Amsterdam for TERF-related activities (see below), so here's an interview I did with one of Germany's fiercest warriors against the forces of gender irrationality, Rona Duwe. Rona was sued by a psychotherapist called Sabine Maur because she shared a video in which Maur could be seen telling fellow mental health professionals how to fiddle with insurance forms so that 'gender-affirming' mastectomies get reimbursed for women claiming to be 'non-binary'. While female-to-male breast removal is considered totally sane in Germany, breast removal for female-to-non-binary is not, which is bizarre, to be fair, because neither of these things is actually real. The Maur video was not originally shared by Rona, but she did share it once it was already online. Rona also made comments on Maur's dubious practices. Because she is a known (and much-hated) entity in German feminist/queer circles, Rona was the one who was pursued in court for this already-public video. In the interview we get into the details of what went down during the legal proceedings, and we also talked about Rona's strategy of being gloriously defiant. Like a growing number of women being hounded over this trans nonsense, Rona has decided to take on her detractors rather than slinking away in fear and silence. You love to see it. "Did you consider coming out in defence of those women?" Meanwhile, I spent 24 hours in Belfast on Tuesday in order to cover the Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland non-reinstated Féile and Phobail event. If you missed all that and you have no idea what I'm talking about, I recommend you read this article by Helen Joyce and my running thread of the conference content. Bonus: enjoy this awkward confrontation between myself and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, neo-Laundry Nun Ailbhe Smyth (prolific Irish prawn sandwich brigadier feminist), and even the brand new Lord Mayor of Belfast.
🎙️ Peaked — Episode 16 Host: Róisín Michaux Guest: Angeliqa Episode Overview In this episode of Peaked, Róisín Michaux speaks with Angeliqa, a Swedish-American mother who was convicted of defamation after warning parents in her local community about a man exposed by the Swedish watchdog organization Dumpen. The conversation explores Sweden's defamation laws, freedom of expression, child protection, media responsibility, and the tension between protecting reputations and protecting children. Angeliqa recounts two incidents that shaped her decision to speak publicly, including an earlier case involving a suspected child predator near her child's preschool and a later case that resulted in criminal prosecution after she shared information in local Facebook groups. The discussion also examines Sweden's migration policies, political culture, public attitudes toward controversial issues, the work of Dumpen, and the ongoing debate over whether Sweden's legal framework adequately protects children from sexual predators.