Italian parents who have made the often difficult and expensive decision to have children through surrogacy abroad have been thrown into a state of fear after a sudden shift in the country’s already strict restrictions on bringing those children up in Italy.

Italy passed a law on Wednesday that criminalizes seeking surrogacy abroad, a move the country’s conservative government said would protect women’s dignity, while critics see it as yet another crackdown by the government on L.G.B.T. families, as the law will make it virtually impossible for gay fathers to have children.

Italy on Wednesday criminalized citizens who go abroad to have children through surrogacy, while opponents slam it as "medieval" and discriminatory to same-sex couples.

Italy's new law criminalises seeking surrogacy abroad, with penalties including jail time and hefty fines. Critics argue it unfairly targets same-sex parents and lacks clarity in implementation.View o

Italy’s parliament approved a law Wednesday that makes it illegal to travel abroad to have a baby via surrogacy—which critics say is a way for Italy’s conservative government to target gay couples, while advocates say it protects the sanctity of motherhood.

Italian lawmakers passed a law on Wednesday making it illegal for couples to travel to the United States and other countries to circumvent Italy's ban on surrogacy to conceive a child.

The bill, which passed 84 to 58 with no abstentions, was hotly debated in the Senate hall before being put to vote.

In a move which tightens a previous 2004 surrogacy ban, Italy has officially banned its citizens from seeking surrogates abroad in a new Senate bill passed on Wednesday.

The measure extending a surrogacy ban in place since 2004 was promoted by Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-Right Brothers of Italy party and its conservative coalition partner, the League, asserting that

Italy criminalises citizens who go abroad to have children through surrogacy - The Catholic Church has strongly opposed surrogacy in Italy and abroad