Italy Bans Citizens from Seeking Surrogacy Abroad in New Law

Italy has passed a controversial new law making it illegal for its citizens to seek surrogacy abroad, further tightening the country’s already strict regulations on reproductive rights. Under this new legislation, Italian citizens who travel outside the country to engage in surrogacy arrangements can now face criminal charges upon their return. Violators could face fines and imprisonment of up to two years.

Surrogacy is already banned within Italy, and the new law expands that prohibition internationally. Lawmakers behind the legislation argue that surrogacy exploits women and commodifies children. They insist the ban is necessary to protect vulnerable individuals from being coerced into such agreements, particularly in countries where the practice is unregulated or where women are paid to carry pregnancies for others.

Critics of the law, however, have voiced concerns that it infringes on personal freedoms and could disproportionately impact same-sex couples and individuals facing infertility. Many argue that the ban will push prospective parents into more dangerous, unregulated surrogacy markets, or force them to navigate complex legal issues in countries where surrogacy remains a gray area.

Italy remains one of the most conservative countries in Europe when it comes to reproductive rights, with strict laws against surrogacy, egg donation, and other assisted reproductive technologies. As debates continue over reproductive freedoms, this latest law is expected to face legal challenges from advocacy groups and individuals affected by the ban.