Banning Surrogacy

Surrogacy is Abusive to Women and Babies and Should Be Universally Banned in the UK

Surrogacy, whether commercial or “altruistic,” is the practice whereby a woman carries and delivers a child for another person or couple. While often presented as compassionate, surrogacy is inherently exploitative of women and commodifies babies. It exposes women—especially those in vulnerable economic situations—to coercion and physical risks, and it treats children as contractual products to be bought, sold, or designed.
Countries such as Italy, France, Spain, and Germany have recognised surrogacy as a violation of human dignity and have banned the practice altogether. In 2024, Italy strengthened its laws, making surrogacy a “universal crime”: Italians who engage in surrogacy abroad are also subject to prosecution at home. The UK should follow this principled example.