What's happened
On October 16, 2024, Italy's parliament approved a law making surrogacy a universal crime, targeting couples who seek surrogacy abroad. This legislation, championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, has drawn criticism for its impact on LGBTQ+ families amid Italy's declining birthrate crisis.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the new law has been described as 'inhumane and wicked' by activists like Maria Sole Giardini, who highlights the lack of consultation with affected families. Politico reports that the U.S. State Department is worried about the legal recognition of American citizens born through surrogacy in Italy, emphasizing the potential for discrimination. The Independent notes that the law has sparked protests from LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue it exacerbates existing inequalities in family rights. These contrasting perspectives illustrate the contentious nature of the surrogacy debate in Italy, with significant implications for both domestic policy and international relations.
How we got here
Italy has had a surrogacy ban since 2004, but recent legislation extends this ban to Italians seeking surrogacy in countries where it is legal. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has pursued a conservative agenda, emphasizing traditional family values and restricting LGBTQ+ rights.
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Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.
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Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory