Rise in Overseas Surrogacy ‘Increases Risk of Stateless Babies’
wanderstayfinder.com – Experts are warning that the growing trend of utilizing surrogates in foreign nations is exposing more infants to the possibility of statelessness. This concern arises as international bodies face mounting pressure to regulate the practice globally. The caution follows the recent decision by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) to halt a fifteen-year initiative aimed at creating a universal surrogacy convention. Internal disagreements among member nations caused the suspension of this ambitious project.
Changing Demographics and Legal Landscapes
As societal norms evolve, an increasing number of individuals are turning to surrogacy to build their families. This demographic includes older women, same-sex couples, and people struggling with infertility. In these arrangements, a surrogate mother carries a pregnancy utilizing either a donor egg or the genetic material of the intended parents. However, the legal environment surrounding these arrangements varies significantly across the globe. Nations like Italy enforce a complete prohibition on the practice, while numerous states within the United States permit commercial transactions. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom maintains a system of “altruistic” surrogacy, which restricts financial compensation to the reimbursement of actual expenses incurred during the pregnancy.
Agencies operating within the UK contend that their domestic legal framework has become outdated, compelling many couples to seek assistance abroad. In these foreign jurisdictions, the regulatory protections designed to shield surrogates from potential exploitation may be either insufficient or entirely absent. Conversely, advocates against the practice argue that surrogacy is inherently exploitative in every instance and are campaigning for a comprehensive international ban.
The Challenge of Global Coordination
Professor Michael Hellner, who
