In Italy, a law condemns surrogacy
as a "universal crime"
On Wednesday 16 October, the Italian Senate passed a law that strengthens the ban on surrogacy by making it illegal even abroad. A step forward on the subject of human exploitation.
"Today's vote, which finally makes the ban on uterus rental for Italian citizens effective and efficient, places us at the forefront of nations when it comes to rights."
The Italian Minister for the Family, Eugenia Roccella, welcomed the vote on the evening of Wednesday 16 October.
"This is an important day for women, for children, for all those who still believe in the dignity of people and in the gratuitousness of human relationships. It is a battle of civilization," she continued.
The use of surrogacy has already been criminalised since 2004 in Italy, which can lead to between three months and two years in prison and risks a fine ranging from 600,000 to 1 million euros. From now on, people who resort to surrogacy abroad will be liable to the same penalties. Hence the name "universal crime".
Many Christian voices have already opposed surrogacy, also known as the practice of surrogacy. Thus, Pope Francis had called in January 2024 for a "universal abolition" of surrogacy.
For its part, the Evangelical Protestant Committee for Human Dignity (CPDH) had already warned in 2020 on this subject:
"It should be remembered that surrogacy is a serious violation of children's rights that is similar to human trafficking on a global scale, with implications on French territory, in particular because of recent developments in case law which authorises the full transcription of civil status documents for children born of surrogacy abroad".
Since 2023, several experts have come together in the Casablanca Declaration to abolish this practice of exploitation of women. In a statement, the organisation "believes that this is a very big step towards the universal ban on surrogacy and that Italy today is making history. Italy, with this law, gives itself the means to protect not only women from exploitation in surrogacy, but also children sold in surrogacy, who are too often forgotten."
In Italy, some are worried about the consequences of this law and say they will take it to the Constitutional Court.
"Today's vote, which finally makes the ban on uterus rental for Italian citizens effective and efficient, places us at the forefront of nations when it comes to rights."
The Italian Minister for the Family, Eugenia Roccella, welcomed the vote on the evening of Wednesday 16 October.
"This is an important day for women, for children, for all those who still believe in the dignity of people and in the gratuitousness of human relationships. It is a battle of civilization," she continued.
The use of surrogacy has already been criminalised since 2004 in Italy, which can lead to between three months and two years in prison and risks a fine ranging from 600,000 to 1 million euros. From now on, people who resort to surrogacy abroad will be liable to the same penalties. Hence the name "universal crime".
Many Christian voices have already opposed surrogacy, also known as the practice of surrogacy. Thus, Pope Francis had called in January 2024 for a "universal abolition" of surrogacy.
For its part, the Evangelical Protestant Committee for Human Dignity (CPDH) had already warned in 2020 on this subject:
"It should be remembered that surrogacy is a serious violation of children's rights that is similar to human trafficking on a global scale, with implications on French territory, in particular because of recent developments in case law which authorises the full transcription of civil status documents for children born of surrogacy abroad".
Since 2023, several experts have come together in the Casablanca Declaration to abolish this practice of exploitation of women. In a statement, the organisation "believes that this is a very big step towards the universal ban on surrogacy and that Italy today is making history. Italy, with this law, gives itself the means to protect not only women from exploitation in surrogacy, but also children sold in surrogacy, who are too often forgotten."
In Italy, some are worried about the consequences of this law and say they will take it to the Constitutional Court.
