Italy has taken a controversial step by criminalizing the use of surrogacy abroad for its citizens, extending a domestic ban that already outlawed the practice within the country. The legislation, which passed in Italy’s Senate with a vote of 84 to 58, carries a punishment of up to two years in prison and fines as high as €1 million for those who seek surrogacy in countries like the US or Canada, where it remains legal.
Proposed by the governing Brothers of Italy party, the law has been met with sharp criticism from human rights activists, who see it as part of a broader effort to restrict family rights, particularly for LGBT couples. In Italy, same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt or use assisted reproduction services like IVF. Critics argue that the ban on overseas surrogacy disproportionately targets these families, further complicating their already limited paths to parenthood.
Opponents of the law took to the streets in protest ahead of the vote, holding placards with slogans like “Parents, not criminals.” Franco Grillini, a well-known LGBT rights activist, condemned the move, saying, “This is a monstrous law. No country in the world has such a thing.” Demonstrators argued that the law unjustly punishes people for seeking parenthood at a time when Italy’s birth rate is one of the lowest in Europe.
Proponents of the ban, however, framed the issue as a matter of protecting the dignity of women. Carolina Varchi, a member of the ruling party who drafted the law, defended it by stating, “We are protecting women from being exploited by the surrogacy industry.” Meloni has been vocal in her opposition to surrogacy, calling it a symbol of “an abominable society that confuses desire with rights and replaces God with money.”
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The law is part of Meloni’s broader socially conservative agenda, which has been particularly critical of non-traditional families. During her 2022 election campaign, she was outspoken against LGBT rights, advocating for what she described as “the natural family.” Earlier in 2023, her government instructed Milan’s city council to stop registering the children of same-sex parents.
Italy joins countries like France, Spain, and Germany in banning all forms of surrogacy, though the global landscape varies widely. In countries such as the US and Canada, surrogacy is permitted and same-sex couples are recognized as legal parents from birth. The disparity in international surrogacy laws has led to growing tension for Italian couples, particularly LGBT families, who fear the impact of this legislation on their hopes of becoming parents.
The debate surrounding Italy’s ban is far from over, with human rights groups planning to challenge the law at both national and European levels. For now, however, Italy’s surrogacy ban marks a significant tightening of family rights for both straight and same-sex couples, with potential global legal implications for those seeking surrogacy abroad.