Chile puts a kid trafficking dam: household Commission approves maternity ban

In a historical unanimous vote, the home of Deputies household Committee Chile approved the draft law prohibiting and penalising foster motherhood. This decision, supported by 10 left, centre and right Members, is simply a crucial minute in the Chilean legislative process. The Casablanca Expert Group, an global organisation based in Casablanca, welcomed this step, highlighting its importance in the fight against serious human rights violations. The task inactive needs to go through the legislature and get the president's signature, but the unanimity of the committee gives real chances of success.

Chilean context: from debate to unanimity

Chile, a country with a population of over 19 million, with strong influences of the Catholic Church (approximately 45% of Catholics according to the census of 2022), has been struggling for years with force to liberalize bioethics. Replacement motherhood, legal in countries specified as the USA or Ukraine, is controversial in Latin America. In Chile, the debate intensified after the 2010 scandals erstwhile Chilean couples utilized “reproductive tourism” in India and Mexico. Mr Juan Irarrázaval Rossel, president of the Republican organization household Commission, played a key role. “Children are not a commodity,” he said after the vote, mobilising legal and medical experts.

Global statistics: the scale of the problem

According to the UN study of 2023, the foster motherhood marketplace generates $14 billion a year, 95% of which concern women from developing countries. In India, before the ban of 2022, about 25 1000 mothers were rented annually, frequently for 5-10 1000 USD. Reem Alsalem reported in her 2024 study that 80% of children born in this way lose contact with their biological mother, leading to intellectual trauma. “This is simply a form of human trafficking where women become factories and children become products,” said the UN rapporteur in a message following the Chilean vote.

International support and UN voice

Reem Alsalem publically praised Chile: “When governments analyse the consequences of this market, the only coherent solution is prohibition.” Her study of 2025, as quoted by the Casablanca Group, recommends a global treaty. Founded in 2022 by bioethics and human rights experts (including from France and Italy), this organisation monitors surrogacy practices from Morocco to Latin America.

Similar initiatives in the region and Europe

Chile joins a wave of bans. In Brazil (2023) and Argentina (2024) penalisation was introduced, and in Mexico a ban in 8 states. In Europe, Italy (2024) and Poland (the 2025 project) follow a akin path, blocking the adoption of children from surrogacy. Spain has been penalising since 2022. These changes are driven by UN resolutions and force from Catholic Churches.

Call for a global treaty in the Year of Slavery Release

2026, the centennial of the Slavery Convention (1926), is the perfect moment. The Casablanca Expert Group calls on Chile to ally with Italy at the UN to make a treaty abolishing surrogacy. “It is not fashion, it is simply a crime against humanity,” concludes the group’s message.

Chile shows that a cross-party will can defend dignity. Will the task last the Senate? Will Poland follow? We're following.