Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a firm stance against surrogacy, labeling it as 'inhuman' and advocating for stricter penalties against the practice. Surrogacy, whether paid or unpaid, is already illegal in Italy. However, Meloni's Brothers of Italy party has proposed a bill to further criminalize surrogacy by increasing fines from €600,000 to €1 million and raising jail terms from three months to up to two years.
During a conference titled 'For a Young Europe,' Meloni reiterated her belief that surrogacy is an inhuman practice and expressed support for the bill that aims to make it a universal crime. Her views align with those of the Catholic Church, which also condemns surrogacy as a violation of the dignity of both the child and the woman involved.
Pope Francis recently addressed surrogacy, emphasizing that it reduces women to mere instruments for the benefit of others. Meloni's government is focusing on addressing Italy's declining birth rates by providing better support for working mothers, including access to childcare and other assistance.
Recognizing the demographic challenge facing the country, Meloni emphasized the importance of securing the future by supporting families. Her government has introduced measures such as baby bonuses, tax breaks for families with children, and reduced taxes on essential baby products.
The move to criminalize surrogacy has sparked controversy, with critics viewing it as targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Italy legalized same-sex unions in 2016 but does not permit gay couples to marry, in line with the Catholic Church's teachings.
Under Meloni's leadership, birth certificates have been revised to include 'mother' and 'father' instead of 'parent 1' and 'parent 2.' In some regions governed by the Brothers of Italy party, names of lesbian mothers have been removed from birth certificates, further fueling the debate surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and family recognition.
