Activists seek surrogacy legalisation

BANKE, JUN 27 -
Although the country lacks legislation to recognise surrogate birthing, there are couple s who have opted the process to become parents and some women rights activists say it is high time the government authorises surrogacy.

A group of women rights activists has arrived in Banke to conduct a study on surrogacy that they believe would act as an impetus to form policies and regulations on surrogate birthing.

Surrogacy is a process where a woman carries and delivers a child for another woman who cannot conceive. The procedure requires transferring of the test tube-developed embryo from the couple to the uterus of the surrogate mother.

According to Laxmi Neupane of Women Human Rights Defenders’ Network, they have information on at least five cases of surrogate birthing and that they plan to meet the couple s concerned.

Surrogacy is legal in the US, Australia, India and European countries, Neupane said, adding that their study is aimed at giving legal status to the practice and aiding the authorities in formulating different regulations and policies pertinent to the issue.

The rights activists also met health professionals and doctors to learn about cases of surrogate birthing.

“We know that there already are couple s with children born out of surrogate mothers. These couple s do not come out in public due to social stigma attached to women who are infertile. The same can be said of those women willing to carry children for another couple ,” Sarita Dahal of Women’s Rehabilitation Centre said. “In our study, we are also discussing the positive and negative aspects of legalising surrogacy in the country.”

The activists involved in the study believe surrogacy is a suitable alternative for infertile women and couple s wishing to have children of their own and that the government should give legal recognition to the practice.

In 2011, the Kathmandu District Court settled the country’s first surrogacy-related lawsuit, although the case was related to inheritance rights of the surrogate child.

It was learnt then that many childless Nepali couple s went to India where surrogacy is legally recognised.

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