Surrogacy? The debate must be open, honest and critical! – NELFA attends the “Brussels conference on Parenting options for European gay men”.
The non-profit US-organisation “Men Having Babies” (MHB) organises its third conference in Brussels on 23 and 24 September 2017. The event provides advice on surrogacy in the USA and Canada, and adoption of children from the USA. It is the first time that NELFA will participate. Vice-President Giuseppina La Delfa was invited to hold a guest speech.
The Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations recently has drawn up guidelines on artificial reproductive techniques (ART), including surrogacy. The General Assembly in Naples (25 March 2017) approved the document. You can find it here: http://bit.ly/2wFyBgc
NELFA defends the full legal protection of all children and their families, regardless from the ART used by their parents. Furthermore, the network supports the creation of appropriate legislation to regulate reproductive medicine across different European countries.
NELFA’s President, Dominique Boren, says, “The conference of MHB in Brussels is a very much expected event by gay men from European countries as future intended parents, and for those ready to voice out against surrogacy. MHB’s conference format may trigger criticism from those only focusing on the presence of North American clinics, agencies and other consultants. On the other hand, the participation of NELFA and other rainbow families NGOs
should help to fight clichés and demonized speech against surrogacy. NELFA’s core objective is to encourage an open, honest and critical debate on ART, including surrogacy in Europe.”
NELFA’s Vice-President, Giuseppina La Delfa, adds, “We believe that surrogacy is possible – this can and must be done with respect and dignity for each of the actors. Our ARTguidelines are an invitation to debate. We do not pretend to have all the answers and solutions. But we want to make clear that we support families that have been built through gestation for others, we defend the right of children to see their parents of intention recognised and protected.”
Extra: guest speech (pdf) of NELFA Vice-President Giuseppina La Delfa