A parliamentary resolution regarding surrogate mothers in Iceland has been passed, but not without controversy.
Currently, Iceland has no clear laws regarding surrogate motherhood, but the subject has gained more prominence recently. While Vísir reports that a poll from Market and Media Research shows some 87% of Icelanders supporting legislation that would allow for surrogate mothers, the Feminist Society of Iceland expressed deep concerns that the resolution in its current form called for far too binding a contract between a potential surrogate mother and hopeful parents. They called for changes to be made to the resolution which would do more to protect the surrogate.
The resolution as it stands now defines “the mother” as the woman who raises the child; not the woman who gives birth to it. However, it also specifies that “no binding contract [between hopeful parents and a surrogate] will ever take precedence over the clear right to one’s own body.” The resolution calls for the Minister of Welfare to create a workgroup which would craft legislation for surrogate motherhood.
This resolution passed today, 33 votes to 13, with 17 either not present or abstaining. The greatest levels of support came from the Independence Party and the Progressives, although some members of both parties in the ruling coalition did vote with it. The Movement was the only party to vote fully against it.
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