Programme at a glance: HERE

This conference is part of a wider project that examines the existing rules criminalising actions relating to surrogacy in more than 25 jurisdictions from five continents. Ethical concerns about surrogacy have given rise to increasing calls to ban the practice and criminalise actors involved in it, including surrogates, intended parents and agencies, as well as medical and legal practitioners. This is in stark contrast, however, to the jurisprudence of many higher courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, which prioritises the best interests of the existing child.

This project examines in particular the efficacy of criminalising surrogacy in light of its express aim of preventing its practice. Preliminary findings suggest that, not only are there very few prosecutions (if any), citizens of countries with prohibitions on surrogacy merely go elsewhere to become parents in that way. Any ethical concerns, therefore, simply materialise in other jurisdictions.

Speakers and Chairs
Ms Molly O’Donoghue (Brodies LLP Solicitors, United Kingdom)
Mr Azan Marwah (Pantheon Chambers, Hong Kong)
Prof Lukas Rass-Masson (University of Toulouse, France)
Prof Esther Farnós Amorós (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain)
Prof Raquel Montaner Fernández (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain)
Prof Rute Teixeira Pedro (University of Porto, Portugal)
Mr Joshua Baker (Prince’s Chambers, Hong Kong)
Prof Lene Wacher Lentz (Aalborg University, Denmark)
Dr Salla Silvola (Legislative Affairs at Ministry of Justice, Finland)
Prof Katja Karjalainen (University of Lapland, Finland)
Mr Jonathan Mok (Karas So LLP, Hong Kong)
Prof Wendy Schrama (Utrecht University, Netherlands)
Dr Laureen Hu (Utrecht University, Netherlands)
Dr Nishat Hyder-Rahman (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium)
Dr Zaina Mahmoud (University of Liverpool, UK)
Prof Nick Hopkins (Law Commissioner, UK)
Mr Spencer Clarke (Law Commission, UK)
Mr Tim Parker (Temple Chambers, Hong Kong /Blackstone Chambers, UK)
Dr Claire O’Connell (LGBT Ireland)
Dr Marco Poli (University of Turin, Italy)
Dr Nataliia Filatova-Bilous (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Ukraine)
Dr Mykola Rubashchenko (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Ukraine)
Dr Başak Başoğlu Kapanci (Pîrî Reis University, Turkey)
Ms Gladys Mirugi-Mukundi (University of the Western Cape, South Africa)
Prof Maria Usang Assim (University of the Western Cape, South Africa)
Prof Julia Sloth Nielsen (University of the Western Cape, South Africa)
Ms Sanskriti Sanghi (Independent researcher, London)
Mr Shaati Chandramour (Thammasat University, Thailand)
Prof Daisy Cheung (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
Ms Hillary Chua (National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Dr Kuek Chee Ying (University of Malaya, Malaysia)
Dr Sharon Kaur (University of Malaya, Malaysia)
Prof Courtney Joslin (University of California, USA)
Prof Claire Fenton-Glynn (the University of Monash, Australia)
The Honour Judge Alexandra Harland (Federal Circuit and Family Court, Australia)
Prof Debra Wilson (University of Canterbury, New Zealand)
Prof Jens M. Scherpe (Aalborg University, Denmark)

Organisers:
Aalborg University
Centre for Medical Ethics and Law (CMEL), The University of Hong Kong