The Politic | March 31, 2025
Italy’s recent law making surrogacy a “universal crime” in the country may face judicial challenges and scrutiny from the European Union. The law and the response to it raise questions, both about reproductive freedom and about exploitation and vulnerabilities in current surrogacy practices.
Ms. Magazine | March 2, 2025
Inconsistent laws and regulations governing surrogacy in different countries have led to underground operations that enable unethical practices and exploitation––including in Turkey, Georgia, and Northern Cyprus.
Council of the EU | May 27, 2024
In a change to its anti-trafficking law, the Council of the European Union has added exploitative surrogacy arrangements as a form of human trafficking covered under the law and has stipulated a punishment of at least 5 years of imprisonment––plus additional penalties for businesses involved.
Council of the EU | January 23, 2024
The Council of the EU and European Parliament have provisionally agreed to expand the definition of trafficking used in its anti-trafficking to include coerced or deceptive surrogacy arrangements.
European Parliament | October 11, 2023
The European Parliament Women’s Rights and Civil Liberties committees adopted Parliament’s draft position: they name surrogacy in cases of reproductive exploitation as a form of human trafficking. If a woman is recruited as a surrogate through threats, she would be considered a victim of trafficking and benefit from rights designated under these rules, while the traffickers would be prosecuted.
Blair Sowry | Progress | December 19, 2022
New regulation would compel EU member states to recognize parentage for LGBTQ and all families created through surrogacy in other member states. The intent is to support LGBTQ equality and rights of the child. But Poland may veto the proposal.
