Press release 20 march 2024
Today, 20 March 2024, Olivia Maurel, born from surrogacy and spokeswoman for the Casablanca Declaration, and PhD Bernard Garcia, coordinator, are in New York for the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, taking part in a side-event (1:15-2:30 PM) on the theme:
Too high a cost: End surrogacy now
Preventing the exploitation and commodification of women and children
The event will be live-streamed via UN WebTV HERE
As an increasing number of States are seeking to proscribe or limit the practice due to various legal, moral, and ethical concerns, this event will examine in particular the nexus between economic vulnerability and the reproductive exploitation of women.
Building on the increasing momentum for the abolition of surrogacy, the event will advocate for States and the international community to work towards the adoption of a legally binding instrument prohibiting this practice in all its forms.
This event will discuss the need for the development and adoption of an international, legally-binding instrument banning surrogacy in all its forms.
Speakers:
• H.E. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
• Olivia Maurel, Casablanca Declaration Spokesperson, born via surrogacy
• Giulia Bovassi, Ph.D. candidate, Bioethicist, Associate Researcher UNESCO BioChair, Assistant Professor at Universidad Anahuac
• Herveline Urcun, Observatoire de la Procréation Assistée
• Bernard Garcia-Larrain, Ph.D., International Advocacy Officer, Juristes pour l’Enfance
• Giorgio Mazzoli, Director of UN Advocacy, ADF International (moderator)
