Italy Makes It Illegal For Couples To Travel Abroad For Surrogacy
Italy has officially made it illegal for couples to travel abroad for surrogacy, a practice that’s already been banned within the country since 2004.
While surrogacy is already forbidden in Italy, this bill aims to crack down on what has been called “surrogacy tourism,” where couples go abroad to countries where surrogacy is legal to find a surrogate. The law was passed by the Senate with 84 votes in favour and 58 against.
Couples who break the law could face up to two years in prison and fines of up to €1 million.
Legislation introduced by Brothers of Italy party to reinforce “traditional family values”
This new legislation was proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party and is part of her government's conservative push to reinforce "traditional family values." Supporters of the ban, including Meloni, argue that surrogacy exploits women and turns children into commodities.
In a speech earlier this year, Meloni described the practice as “inhuman” and likened it to treating children as supermarket products.
Her party’s senator, Lavinia Mennuni, echoed this sentiment during the debate, saying, “Motherhood is absolutely unique, it absolutely cannot be surrogated, and it is the foundation of our civilization.”
The law is part of a broader agenda by Meloni’s government, which has long opposed LGBTQ rights. In 2023, her administration ordered the city of Milan to stop registering children born to same-sex parents.
Meloni has consistently voiced her belief that children should be raised by a mother and father, rejecting surrogacy and adoption by same-sex couples.
Government accused of targeting LGBTQ+ couples with new law
Critics argue the law disproportionately targets LGBTQ couples, who already face barriers in Italy when trying to become parents and is yet another step backward in their fight for equal rights.
Demonstrators who gathered near the Senate before the vote expressed fears that this law could further marginalise LGBTQ families in a country already struggling to modernise its approach to family structures.
Alessia Crocini, president of the charity Rainbow Families, pointed out that while 90% of Italians who use surrogacy are heterosexual couples, many do so in secret. The ban, therefore, disproportionately affects LGBTQ couples, who cannot hide their use of surrogacy as easily when returning to Italy with a child.
Franco Grillini, a long-time LGBTQ rights activist, expressed outrage, stating, “If someone has a baby, they should be given a medal. Here instead you are sent to jail… if you don’t have children in the traditional way.”
He called the law “monstrous,” emphasising that no other country has imposed such a measure.
Italy face declining birth rate for 15th year in a row
The ban also comes at a time when Italy is grappling with a sharply declining birth rate. The national statistics institute, ISTAT, reported a record low in births in 2023, marking the 15th consecutive year of decline. Opponents of the law argue that it will only make it harder for people to have children, further worsening the country’s demographic crisis.
Despite the backlash, Meloni’s government shows no signs of reversing course. With a firm belief in traditional family roles, this ban is seen as just one of many moves aimed at reinforcing those values in Italy.
