Cambodia mulls ban on surrogacy

>> PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is considering the adoption of a law banning commercial surrogacy, a move already taken by Thailand, Nepal, and India, the government said yesterday.

Justice Ministry spokesman Chin Malin said that Justice Minister Ang Vong Vatthana made the disclosure on Wednesday in a meeting with dozens of members of the government, nongovernmental organisations and legal experts.

According to the spokesman, the minister told the meeting that based on his own online research, the cost of the service ranges between US$20,000 and $50,000.

He voiced fears of vulnerable Cambodian women being exploited by unscrupulous agencies, the spokesman said.

One website, Sensible Surrogacy, wrote on its website that surrogacy in Cambodia is possible due to a lack of official regulation.

The Australia-based nonprofit organisation Families Through Surrogacy, which lists six agencies operating in Cambodia, said that following moves by Thailand and Nepal to shut off surrogacy to all foreigners, Cambodia is emerging as a “new frontier” for the trade.

Women’s Affairs Minister Ing Kantha Phavi said recently that the relevant authorities are studying the issue and will soon submit a report to the government on the advantages and disadvantages of surrogacy.

Sources with knowledge of surrogacy services in Cambodia suggest there are about 40 surrogacy providers and brokers operating in Cambodia, including several of those which had relocated from Thailand.