Italy has passed a controversial law criminalising couples who seek surrogacy abroad, with penalties including up to two years in jail and fines of up to €1 million.
The bill, spearheaded by the far-right Brothers of Italy party and supported by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, extends an existing 2004 surrogacy ban to include those seeking surrogacy in countries where it is legal, such as the US and Canada.
Proponents argue the law protects women from exploitation and upholds traditional family structures, with Brothers of Italy lawmakers emphasising the uniqueness of motherhood and condemning surrogacy as “surrogacy tourism.”
However, critics argue the law disproportionately targets same-sex parents, as surrogacy is often their only option to have biological children in a country where same-sex marriage is also banned.
Opposition lawmakers and LGBTQ+ activists protested, labelling the law discriminatory and legally ambiguous. Concerns were raised about its implementation, such as how evidence for convictions would be collected and whether the law could be applied retroactively, which would violate Italian law.
The bill also faces criticism for potentially complicating the registration of birth certificates for children born to Italian citizens abroad.
#MaltaDaily
