Children's rights in Surrogacy

ISS works to improve protection for children born through surrogacy. The ever-evolving and increasing recourse to assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) has wide implications for children.

By adopting a child-rights-approach, ISS calls for greater protections for children born through surrogacy. This approach does indeed acknowledge surrogacy as a reality yet does not equate to encouraging nor promoting the practice itself.

background

The 2019 Council of Europe report on the anonymous donation of sperm and oocytes: balancing the rights of parents, donors and children

estimates approximately 8 million children have been born to date through this procedure. 

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Geography

Vastly different national approaches

Legal

Lack of legal framework

Commercial

A growing commercial market

Our approach

Always prioritizing the children's welfare

Guiding principles

The Verona Principles for the protection of the rights of the child born through surrogacy

Following a comprehensive consultation process as well as substantive contributions from over 100 covering multiple disciplines and perspectives, regions, national and international contexts, the Verona Principles for the protection of the rights of the child born through surrogacy (Verona Principles) were published in 2021.

ISS Report - April 2025

Legal Trends in Surrogacy: Towards a Greater Protection for the Rights of Children Born through Surrogacy?

Executive Summary

For inquiries

Please feel free
to contact
cooperation@iss-ssi.org