Italy forges ahead with criminalizing parents who use surrogates

Italy’s lower house of parliament has approved a divisive bill that could impose prison terms on parents that use surrogates to have children — if even the process was legally carried out overseas. The vote represents a step forward in the implementation of a socially conservative agenda backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The proposal was supported by 166 lawmakers and the ruling coalition parties: Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy, the anti-immigrant League and the center-right Forza Italia.

Surrogacy has been illegal in Italy for around 20 years, but the bill, which was recently introduced by a lawmaker from Meloni’s party, goes further, mandating a fine and jail term for parents who have used surrogates, even in countries where it is legal. The punishment could span between three months to two years in prison, and a fine of between €600,000 ($664,230) and €1 million.