Italy Makes It Illegal to Seek Surrogacy Abroad
Italy’s parliament has passed a law making it illegal for couples to go outside the country to have a baby via surrogacy. This measure was promoted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party and its conservative coalition partner, the League, aiming to protect women’s dignity. The Senate approved the bill with a vote of 84 in favor and 58 against, after the Lower House’s approval last year.
Italians seeking surrogacy in countries like the United States or Canada, where the practice is legal, can face up to two years in jail and up to 1 million euros ($1.1 million) in fines. The surrogacy ban applies equally to all couples but is criticized by same-sex parent advocates, who argue it hits gay families particularly hard in a country struggling with record-low birthrates and where only heterosexual couples are allowed to adopt.
