On April 14, 2025, an expert online discussion was held on the topic “Surrogacy in the context of combating human trafficking.” This is the first event in a series of discussions organized by the CSO “Democracy Development Center” at the initiative of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Public Council under the inter-factional association “Equal Opportunities” of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service Issues, the Higher School of Public Administration, and with the support of UN Women in Ukraine. українською
The event was attended by:
- Maria Dmytrieva, Programme Director, Democracy Development Center (Ukraine);
- Oksana Pustova, State Expert on Human Trafficking, Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine;
- Yulia Honchar, UN Women program analyst on gender responsive governance;
- Yuliia Lykhach, Director, Higher School of Public Governance;
- Oleksandra Novikova, European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW);
- Tetiana Rudenko, Senior Project Officer, OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings;
- Marie Josèphe Devillers, International Coalition for the Abolition of Surrogate Motherhood (ICASM), France;
- Dr. Sheela Suryanarayanan, Associate Professor, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Hyderabad (India);
- Zoryana Skaletska, Kyiv City Council Member, Minister of Health of Ukraine (2019–2020).
The topic of surrogacy in the context of combating human trafficking is a difficult one, but it is critical for protecting women’s rights, for understanding new forms of exploitation and for developing adequate policies at the national level. It is important that the international partners of the event were representatives of the International Coalition to Ban Surrogacy (ICASM), the European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW) and the International Women’s Platform for Action (WOPAI). Expert support for the event was also provided by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.
An overview of the situation with the vulnerability of Ukrainian migrant women in Europe, and the dangers of such commercial offers to women in an unstable financial situation, was made by Oleksandra Novikova (European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW). In turn, Tetiana Rudenko, Senior Project Manager of the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, provided data analysis on the topic “Surrogacy and the Risks of Human Trafficking: A Strategic Approach”. Marie Josèphe Devillers, representative of the International Coalition for the Abolition of Surrogate Motherhood (ICASM), France, also presented the study “Surrogacy as a Predatory System Targeting Vulnerable Women. A New Chapter in Human Trafficking”. Dr. Sheela Suryanarayanan, Associate Professor Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Hyderabad (India), spoke about “Ethical Challenges of Surrogacy in India and Similarities with Ukraine.” Zoryana Skaletska, a member of the Kyiv City Council and Minister of Health of Ukraine in 2019–2020, provided expert commentary on the topic “Legal Certainty and Medical Ethics in Surrogacy: Between Instruction and Responsibility.”
The topics of discussion are part of Ukraine’s international obligations — in particular, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace, Security”, and are important in the context of adapting Ukrainian legislation to European Union norms and obligations to other international structures. These topics are becoming even more relevant in the context of full-scale war, increasing vulnerability of women, and increasing gender-based violence.
The events of the CSO “Democracy Development Center” are held as part of preparations for the development of a new State Targeted Social Program to Combat Human Trafficking for the period until 2025. We are convinced that hearing the voices of experts from different countries is critically important for the qualitative renewal of Ukrainian policy and taking into account both new challenges and innovations in international laws and norms in response to these challenges.
Video of the online discussion