Tag: Thailand

Amid review, debate over Australia’s surrogacy laws

Debate grows over Australia’s surrogacy laws as more couples look overseas

ABC News | June 27, 2025

Increasingly, Australians are going abroad for surrogacy arrangements, in part because Australia only allows non-compensated surrogacy. The Australian Law Reform Commission is conducting a review of the country’s surrogacy laws, but debate over the ethics of compensated surrogacy continues.

Read the full article ->

Should commercial surrogacy be allowed in Australia?

ABC News AM | June 26, 2025

Although compensated surrogacy is currently illegal in Australia, an ongoing review of the law could change that. Some advocates argue that allowing surrogates to be paid would make it easier for intended parents to find surrogates in Australia and would avoid the issue of lawyers and clinicians being paid, while the surrogate is not. Opponents of legalization argue it would lead to exploitation of vulnerable women, citing examples of recent cases in India and Thailand. 

Read the full article ->

Babies for sale: New Zealanders commissioning illegal surrogacy in Thailand

The New Zealand Herald | May 31, 2025

New Zealand’s ministry for children is raising concerns about New Zealanders travelling to Thailand to have children via surrogacy, where it is illegal, before bringing them home to legally adopt them. New Zealand’s outdated family laws contribute to difficulties addressing these practices.

Read the full article ->

Accusations Of Egg-Harvesting Rock Georgian Surrogacy Industry

February 13, 2025 | Radio Free Europe

Thai authorities are investigating claims from three Thai women, who say they traveled to Georgia under the pretense of surrogacy only to be forced into a Chinese crime syndicate’s “egg harvesting” operation. The Chinese company says they facilitate surrogacy arrangements with contracts and are not holding surrogates in Georgia against their will. 

Read the full article ->

Thai Doctors, Nurses, Broker Arrested for Illegal Surrogacy for Chinese Couple 

Khaosod English | December 13, 2024

Authorities in Thailand have arrested doctors and nurses alleged to be operating an illegal surrogacy ring for a Chinese couple. 

Read the full article ->



Thailand Prepares to Lift Commercial Surrogacy Ban

VOA | March 10, 2024

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is drafting legislation to legalize compensated surrogacy for local and foreign couples. Critics are concerned that the country’s limited regulatory resources will leave surrogates vulnerable to human trafficking.

Read the full article ->

Man arrested for supplying frozen semen to surrogacy rackets abroad

Thai PBS World | February 25, 2024

Thai police arrested a man thought to be a provider of frozen sperm, ova, and embryos for clinics operating in Laos and Cambodia as part of an illegal transnational surrogacy network. (Note “embryos” was incorrectly translated as “fetuses” in the article)

Read the full article ->

Concerning shifts in the shrinking world of global surrogacy

Progress Educational Trust | September 25, 2023

With the growing global demand for surrogacy, and a narrowing range of options as countries close their doors to foreigners seeking surrogates, intended parents are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate cross-border surrogacy arrangements in an ethical way.

Read the full article ->

Research Probes Exploitation Risks in Banned Commercial Surrogacy

Mirage News | August 1, 2023

A study on Thailand’s ban on commercial surrogacy shows that the underground industry leaves surrogates with few protections. An international legislative framework could regulate surrogacy without penalizing the surrogate.

Read the full article ->

Illegal surrogacy offenders face stiffer penalties

Bangkok Post | May 12, 2023

Although Thailand outlawed surrogacy in 2015, the industry still operates illegally. Now, the Department of Health is drafting an amendment to increase the penalties for brokers who facilitate surrogacy and for surrogates themselves.

Read the full article ->

Thailand records 621 approved surrogacy cases in seven years

Thai PBS | February 7, 2023

Since Thailand legalized surrogacy for married couples seven years ago, 621 surrogacy cases have been approved. To combat commercialization, the government still bans the sale of gametes and embryos.

Read the full article ->