Olivia Maurel in Argentina (press release in English)

Press release, Buenos Aires,  August 13, 2026

Summary    

Following her widely noted visit to Chile, Olivia Maurel, spokesperson for the Casablanca Declaration and a person born through surrogacy, continued her South American tour with a visit to Argentina from 10 to 12 August 2026.

Through her personal testimony and the numerous meetings held during the visit, Olivia Maurel emphasized that surrogacy cannot be viewed merely as a matter of contractual freedom or biomedical progress. Rather, it raises fundamental issues relating to human dignity, legal parentage, protection against exploitation and the rights of the child, all of which call for a coherent international legal response.

What Happened    

On Monday, August 10, Olivia visited Austral University (located 50 km from Buenos Aires) to participate in a panel discussion alongside university professors before an audience of approximately 370 people. The session was titled « What You Aren’t Told About Surrogacy: Reflections on Identity and Human Dignity in the Age of Biotechnology. » The discussion continued with a medical expert in fetal health who questioned Olivia in front of staff and students, followed by a lunch with the university rector and his team.

Olivia then traveled to the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) Law School for another symposium titled « Surrogacy: An Interdisciplinary Approach and Lived Experiences »—an expert panel dedicated to reflection, analysis, and the exchange of views on the contemporary issues surrounding surrogacy. Olivia shared her personal story before a packed hall, following the testimony of Belen—a former surrogate mother currently trying to reunite with her son. The event also featured remarks by Verónica Toller, a journalist who serves as Director of the Observatory on Vulnerability and Human Development at Austral University and as Operational Director of the Executive Committee for Combating Human Trafficking and Exploitation and for Victim Protection and Assistance.

It was striking to see a surrogate mother and a woman born via surrogacy share their stories at the same event—undoubtedly a historic moment.

During one of the sessions, a young woman—who was unable to carry a pregnancy to term and had already begun the process of seeking a surrogate—was deeply moved and left in thoughtful reflection after hearing the testimonies and the information presented.

Several proponents of surrogacy—some personally involved in the practice—were also present, yet the discussions took place in an atmosphere of remarkable respect and openness.

A fetal medicine specialist interviews Olivia at the Austral Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in front of staff and students.

At Austral university : PhD. Federico Menendez (Prof. Facultad de Derecho); Ing. Rafael Aragon (Director del Hospital Universitario Austral); Rosario Romero Victorica (Prof. Inst. Ciencias de la Familia); PhD. Ma. Dolores Dimier (Decana del Inst. Ciencias de la Familia); Mag. Julián Rodriguez Rector de la Universidad Austral; OLIVIA; Dra. Juliana Moren (Médica Fetal); BERNARDO y PhD Lorena Bolzon (Vicerrectora de Alumnos de la Universidad Austral)

August 11    

On August 11, Olivia Maurel was received at the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Palais San Martín) for a meeting dedicated to the international issues surrounding the fight against surrogacy; she met with the Secretary of State for Worship (a Deputy Minister within the Foreign Ministry) and the Director of Human Rights. Discussions focused notably on the first joint declaration by states calling for an international moratorium aimed at the universal abolition of surrogacy—an initiative launched by Argentina, Italy, and Chile on June 22 at the UN in Geneva (see the Chilean government’s press release HERE).

She gave a public lecture at the Legislature (the Legislative Assembly of the City of Buenos Aires) titled « The Other Side of Surrogacy: The Voice of the Children. »

She subsequently addressed lawmakers at the Argentine National Congress, having been invited by Deputy Nicolás Mayoraz—Chair of the Chamber of Deputies’ Constitutional Affairs Committee—who facilitated the dialogue alongside Dr. Bernardo García Larraín and Dr. Débora Ranieri, President of the Association for the Promotion of Civil Rights (PRODECI).

Olivia Maurel at the Legislative Assembly of the City of Buenos Aires

Olivia Maurel at the Argentine National Congress, with Dr. Bernardo García Larraín and Dr. Débora Ranieri

August 12    

On August 12, Olivia Maurel continued her itinerary with a series of meetings involving judges from various jurisdictions, officials responsible for combating human trafficking, and federal prosecutors specializing in cases of reproductive trafficking. These discussions addressed the links between surrogacy, the exploitation of women, and new forms of transnational crime.

This visit takes place against a particularly significant backdrop in Argentina: the country was among the first states—alongside Italy and Chile—to sign the initial joint declaration calling for an international moratorium aimed at the universal abolition of surrogacy. This commitment reflects a growing determination among several states to gain international recognition of the risks this practice poses to the fundamental rights of women and children.

All these initiatives align with the landmark report presented in 2025 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, which concluded that surrogacy is characterized by exploitation and violence against women and children, and urged States to work towards its abolition through a legally binding international instrument (see the report HERE).