Hague Surrogacy Convention Paused After 15 Years - What Went Wrong Artwork

Australian Family and Fertility Law

Join Award-Winning Family & Surrogacy Lawyers, Bruce Provan and Stephen Page who interviews lawyers, doctors, counsellors, parents, surrogates, scientists, donors and others who are the moving parts bringing together the ability to form families through surrogacy, and when families fall apart. Interviewees talk about their personal journeys through life, leading to their passion in their respective fields.

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Australian Family and Fertility Law

Hague Surrogacy Convention Paused After 15 Years - What Went Wrong

April 30, 2026 • Stephen Page

0:00 | 4:45

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After 15 years of negotiations, the Hague Conference has paused its international surrogacy convention project.

Stephen Page, Director at Page Provan Family & Fertility Lawyers what went wrong and why it matters.

The impasse? The US advocates for reproductive freedom, while Europe — particularly France and Germany — opposes surrogacy outright and insists the surrogate is always the legal mother.

The real losers here aren't the countries — it's the children born through surrogacy who deserve legal identity and parentage recognition across borders. International surrogacy isn't going away. Without a global framework, children remain in legal limbo.

In This Episode:

15-year history of Hague surrogacy convention negotiations
Why the project has been paused indefinitely
US position: reproductive freedom and intended parent recognition
European position: surrogacy opposition and surrogate as legal mother
Stephen's role as ABA lead 2012-2016
Impact on children born through international surrogacy
Legal limbo and citizenship issues
What happens next

Need expert international surrogacy advice?
Visit Page Provan Family & Fertility Lawyers: https://pageprovan.com.au/

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