ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that surrogacy as “inhuman” and is advocating for stricter penalties against the practice, including fines of up to one million dollars and prison sentences of up to two years.
The act of surrogacy is already illegal in the country but Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has introduced a bill that would further criminalize the act by proposing to increase fines from €600,000 to €1 million and prison terms from three months to two years.
Speaking at a conference titled ‘For a Young Europe: Demographic Transition, Environment, Future’ in Rome, Meloni reiterated her stance on surrogacy, emphasizing its inhuman nature.
She expressed support for the bill that aims to make surrogacy a universal crime, aligning with the views held by the Catholic Church.
Conference on Declining Birth Rates in Italy
The move to criminalize surrogacy is seen as a measure targeting the LGBTQ+ community, following Italy’s legalization of same-sex unions in 2016, which does not permit gay couples to be “married” in accordance with Catholic Church doctrine.
The conference also addressed Italy’s declining birth rates, with Meloni’s government pledging to improve support for working mothers, including through increased public spending, baby bonuses, tax breaks for families with children, and reduced taxes on baby essentials.
