Italy tightens the ban on surrogate motherhood, to also include citizens who travel abroad for this purpose.
The newly adopted law has sparked debate in the country, and means that individuals who have children with the help of surrogate mothers in other countries can now be prosecuted when they return to Italy.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who represents the far-right party Brothers of Italy, welcomes the new law. She believes that it counteracts "the commercialization of women's bodies and children".
"The bill that makes the rental of wombs a universal crime is finally law", Meloni writes on X.
Human rights groups have, among other things, called the law "medieval" and believe that the government is interfering with people's private lives.
So far, individuals who have used surrogate motherhood in Italy have risked up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of one million euros, equivalent to 11.4 million kronor.
