Meloni’s surrogacy ban hits immediate backlash in Italy – POLITICO

ROME — Rights groups and opposition parties in Italy have condemned as “inhumane” a new ban on couples going abroad to have a baby through surrogacy.

The new law, proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing governing party, extends an existing prohibition on surrogacy in Italy. It targets people with a penalty of maximum two years in prison and fines of up to €1 million, if they travel to a country where the practice is legal to have a baby via surrogacy.

The ban, an election pledge by Meloni’s coalition, was passed by the Senate on Wednesday with 84 votes in favor to 58 against. Currently, an estimated 250 Italian couples a year go abroad to have surrogate children.