The Guardian | July 19, 2026
Transnational surrogacy arrangements are on the rise, but the increase also brings a rise in the number of children at risk of being “stateless.” Countries have different approaches to regulating surrogacy and parental recognition of children born from foreign surrogacy arrangements, and nations disagree about whether to ban or regulate surrogacy–both leaving an absence of global agreement on how to address surrogacy and the risks of statelessness.
South China Morning Post | July 11, 2026
Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia have all banned compensated surrogacy for foreign intended parents in response to exploitation in the industry. As a result of the bans, intended parents from China–where domestic surrogacy is not allowed–are seeking surrogacy arrangements in countries such as Georgia and Armenia–where surrogacy remains legal–or in underground networks that span several countries to evade authorities. China does grant citizenship to children born via surrogacy in other countries – an important factor that maintains demand within the “shadow economy” of surrogacy in Asia. Based on concerns about the inability of the existing ban to address exploitation in Thailand, Thai officials are considering policy reforms.
International surrogates recruited on social media face emotional control in Georgia’s booming childbirth market, new COMPAS study reveals
COMPAS | June 16, 2026
Intermediaries, including agents and clinic coordinators, play an important role in Georgia’s surrogacy industry, especially when it comes to recruitment of surrogates from Central Asia. New research suggests that intermediaries exert emotional control over surrogates’ living situations, working conditions, and health, in part because surrogates live together in apartments that clinics provide and therefore have limited privacy and mobility.
Central Asian Women Recruited Into Georgia’s Surrogacy Market via Social Media
The Times of Central Asia | June 24, 2026
The same research also shows that Russian-language social media ads recruit surrogates from Central Asia by promoting surrogacy as paid work. Some online recruiters and clinic coordinators were previously surrogates themselves, which can make the process feel less commercial. However, the bulk of the compensation for surrogacy is not provided until after delivery, which can leave surrogates with limited financial power even in the face of poor living conditions or a lack of support.
OC Media | May 28, 2026
A documentary called “9-Month Contract” follows the experience of Zhana, a single mother in the country of Georgia who becomes a surrogate. The film shows how surrogacy is overlooked but also stigmatized in Georgia, even as the industry grows – and increasingly relies on surrogates from Central Asian and African countries.
Philippine Daily Inquirer | April 12, 2026
The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines reports that immigration officers stopped a woman in the Manila airport who was traveling to Beijing, and then Tbilisi, Georgia, to be a surrogate. She had been contacted by a recruiter via Facebook and was offered money in exchange for surrogacy services –– a practice regarded as human trafficking by authorities in the Philippines.
The Conversation | March 26, 2026
New research on Ukrainian surrogates’ experiences in Georgia–following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine–show how surrogates lack strong legal protections and would benefit from clearer and more thorough policy-making on cross-border surrogacy.
The New York Times | December 14, 2025
Thai women were lured to Georgia by the promise of paid surrogacy, but had little power once they arrived–unable to leave, faced with poor living conditions, subject to unknown medical procedures (likely egg extraction), and targeted with abuse.
ABC News | October 25, 2025
The country of Georgia has become a hub for compensated surrogacy, especially for Australian intended parents. However, unethical practices and exploitation of surrogates raise concerns about the industry and the limited regulations governing it.
ChinaFile | October 3, 2025
Georgia and nearby post-Soviet countries are growing in popularity among Chinese parents pursuing parenthood via surrogacy –– a practice banned in China. With increasing demand, legal grey areas and complex parentage processes in China have resulted in exploitation of surrogates and intended parents.
COMPAS | May 2, 2025
Intermediaries in Georgia’s surrogacy industry not only facilitate migration of surrogates from other countries in Central Asia to Georgia, but they also serve as the supervisors of surrogates for clinics. They respond to their needs, but they maintain tight control over surrogates’ lives.
