The writer and speaker Olivia Maurel, born 34 years ago in the United States through surrogacy, will arrive in Buenos Aires to participate in four conferences where she will share her personal experience and her position against this practice.
Maurel is a spokesperson for the Casablanca Declaration, an initiative that brings together more than 150 experts from different countries and promotes the universal abolition of surrogacy. During her visit to Argentina, she will participate in activities organized by universities, social organizations, and entities related to human rights.
The activities will take place on August 10 and 11 at various locations in the City of Buenos Aires, including the Auditorium of the Austral University Hospital, the Faculty of Law of the University of Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Legislature, and the National Congress.
Who is Olivia Maurel and what is her stance on surrogacy
Maurel argues that the discussion about surrogacy should be approached from a perspective centered on the rights of children and women. From the Casablanca Declaration, they believe that the practice constitutes a form of reproductive exploitation incompatible with human dignity and fundamental rights.
The organization asserts that the debate should not be limited to the right or desire of a person to have a child but should also consider the consequences that the practice may generate for those involved.
In this regard, Maurel emphasizes the need to analyze which rights may be affected to satisfy the desire to have a child, one of the main arguments she will develop during her presentations in Buenos Aires.
The international debate on surrogacy
Maurel's visit occurs in a context of growing international discussion about surrogacy. According to the press release, a few months ago, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, presented a report to the General Assembly highlighting situations of exploitation and violence related to this practice and called on states to move towards its abolition through a binding international instrument.
In Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament included exploitation related to surrogacy within the 2024 Directive against human trafficking, according to information released by the organizers.
In America, the press release also highlights a recommendation from the Organization of American States (OAS) to investigate what is termed reproductive trafficking. This initiative was reportedly incorporated in May of this year during the VIII Meeting of National Authorities on trafficking, under the Security Council of the organization, at the initiative of Argentina.
What is happening in Argentina with surrogacy
The debate also has a judicial dimension in Argentina. According to information provided by the organizers, Federal Justice has been conducting investigations since December 2023 for alleged human trafficking for reproductive exploitation, linked to commercial surrogacy schemes and the alleged sale of children.
One of these investigations led, according to the press release, to the prosecution of the director of a clinic in the province of Córdoba and other defendants. There are also investigations related to possible networks for the mediation and recruitment of women in vulnerable situations.
Maurel's conferences will seek to address these issues from a legal, ethical, and human rights perspective, in addition to analyzing the responses being developed by international organizations and various judicial systems in light of the reported situations.
Where will Olivia Maurel's conferences be held
The activities scheduled for August 10 and 11 will take place at the Austral University Hospital, the Faculty of Law of UBA, the Buenos Aires City Legislature, and the National Congress.
The agenda is organized by various institutions, including the Austral University Hospital, the Austral University, the Faculty of Law of UBA, REDIFAM, PRODECI, the Association of Women Judges of Argentina (AMJA), the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), the International Center for the Promotion of Human Rights (CIPDH), and Free and Sovereign Women.
Olivia Maurel's arrival in Argentina aims to reintroduce the debate on surrogacy, its legal implications, and its consequences on the rights of women and children into the public agenda, in a context of growing international discussion about the regulation and potential prohibition of this practice.
