October 17, (THEWILL) – The Italian Senate has passed new legislation making it illegal for couples to go abroad to have babies through surrogacy.
According to the new legislation, passed on Wednesday by 84 votes to 58, violators could face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to €1m (£835,710).
Surrogacy is a practice where a woman carries a pregnancy for another couple or individual, usually due to fertility issues or same-sex relationships.
The new law is part of the move to promote a socio-conservative agenda of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s belief that children should only be raised by a man and a woman.
Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister described herself as a Christian mother. She had previously spoken out against surrogacy involving LGBT couples.
In a speech in 2022, she said, “Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby.” In 2023, her government instructed Milan’s city council to stop registering the children of same-sex parents. Meloni then described surrogacy as “a symbol of an abominable society that confuses desire with rights and replaces God with money.” Her deputy, Matteo Salvini, has also called the practice an “aberration” that treats women like an “ATM”.
The new legislation is seen by critics to target LGBT couples, who are not allowed to adopt or use IVF in the country.
Ahead of the vote, they said the legislation made it harder for people to become parents despite the country’s declining birth rate.
“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. This is a monstrous law. No country in the world has such a thing”, LGBT activist Franco Grillini said in a protest.
