2017 FILE PHOTO: 'Wombs for rent' business flourishing in communist Laos. - Reuters
VIENTIANE: The authorities have issued a stern warning against any form of surrogacy services in Laos, saying that perpetrators could be given prison sentences of up to 19 years and fined up to 400 million kip (US$0.019 million).
The warning was issued after many cases were reported and processed. In 2018 and 2019, authorities detected numerous advertisements promoting illegal surrogacy services, leading to the arrest and prosecution of suspects in five human trafficking cases.
The People’s Court has since delivered verdicts in all five cases, with the harshest penalty being 19 years in prison and fines of up to 400 million kip imposed.
Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Department under the Ministry of Public Security, Colonel Kikeo Chanthalangsy, told the media that surrogacy is considered a criminal offence under Article 215 of the Lao Criminal Code, which pertains to human trafficking.
Under Article 215, individuals found guilty of engaging in surrogacy-related human trafficking activities can face imprisonment of up to 19 years.
“Any individual or organisation involved in offering, arranging, or advertising such services is violating the law and will face serious legal consequences,” Colonel Kikeo warned.
Authorities stressed that no private hospital or clinic is allowed to offer or facilitate this type of illegal service and the government has never authorised such practices.
This year and last, anti-human trafficking authorities have continued to find advertisements posted by groups promoting illegal surrogacy services on social media.
These ads often claimed that individuals were seeking surrogates and offered promises of high wages sufficient to support an entire family.
Recruiters employed a range of tactics to persuade potential surrogates, promoting the belief that women would receive comprehensive care during pregnancy, including dedicated attendants and access to all essential medical and living facilities.
Article 215 of the Lao Criminal Code states that individuals who recruit or hire women to become surrogates, as well as those who participate in or facilitate such arrangements, are directly liable and will face prosecution for human trafficking offences.
Individuals who agree to become surrogates in violation of the law also face legal consequences, while risking serious impacts on their physical and mental health, as well as the well-being of their families.
As for the children born through these illegal arrangements, their futures remain uncertain. What is clear, however, is that they are considered to be victims of human trafficking, an outcome that is both tragic and deeply concerning.
On behalf of anti-human trafficking authorities, Colonel Kikeo hopes that all members of society will be on the alert for such practices and inform the authorities if they have any suspicions about illegal activities.
Any individual, whether Lao or foreign, who intends to hire a surrogate mother or adopt a surrogate mother, must consult a doctor at a government hospital designated by the Ministry of Health to obtain accurate information. - Vientiane Times/ANN
