Surrogacy 'law must be of world standard'

[Lite Beer]

Surrogacy 'law must be of world standard'
The Nation 

 

BANGKOK: -- Australia voices concern after couples prevented from leaving with children at airport

Australia has asked Thailand to adopt international standards when it passes a surrogacy law this year.

Acting permanent secretary for Justice Charnchao Chaiyanukit said yesterday that Australian Ambassador to Thailand James Wise telephoned him to talk about the impending legislation.

"Initially, Australia wants Thailand to have a surrogacy law that meets international standards," Charnchao said.

He also said the Australian mission in Thailand wanted to meet with the military junta as soon as possible, in order to explain that Australian couples who came to Thailand for surrogacy services did so purely so they could have a child and had nothing to do with human trafficking or any commercial intention.

The Australian ambassador expressed support for the bill on surrogacy although he requested humanitarian treatment towards the Australians involved, according to Songsak Saicheua, director general of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, who met the envoy.

More than 200 Australian couples are currently waiting for the birth of children through surrogacy services in Thailand.

The Australian government, meanwhile, issued an updated travel advisory for Thailand, urging their nationals using surrogacy services in Thailand to seek independent legal advice.

The legal situation in regard to commercial surrogates is currently unclear in Thailand, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

"In particular, legal advice should be sought on the implications of any new exit requirements," the department said.

"Thai authorities may require the child's birth certificate, copies of the identity documents of the birth mother and intended parents, a surrogacy contract and an order from the Thai Juvenile Court confirming the surrogate gave up her rights to custody of the child."

The updated travel warning came after reports that two Australian couples were prevented from leaving Thailand with surrogate babies on Thursday.

The same-sex couples were stopped by immigration officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said, adding that one of the couples was travelling with the surrogate mother. An American couple was also prevented from leaving with a surrogate baby in the past 24 hours, it reported.

The broadcaster said immigration authorities had been ordered by police not to allow surrogate babies to leave Thailand without a court order.

Thai authorities have been reviewing a draft law on surrogacy following the baby Gammy affair, in which a West Australian couple refused to take a twin boy from a Thai surrogate mother because he had Down's syndrome. A high-profile case involving a Japanese man has added impetus on the need for a law to cover such services.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop asked Thai authorities to permit Australians who have already paid surrogacy agencies and mothers to complete their arrangements before enforcing a ban. Charnchao quoted the Australian envoy as saying that Australians came to use the surrogacy service in Thailand while the country did not have clear laws on the issue. So, he wished Thailand had clear legislation on the issue.

Charnchao said he had conveyed the concerns to the junta's legal and justice chief General Paiboon Kumchaya and the requested meeting is expected to happen soon.

Meanwhile, police will soon raid "many more" surrogacy clinics as part of their inquiry into a case involving 15 children believed to have been fathered by Japanese national Mitsutoki Shigeta.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Surrogacy-law-must-be-of-world-standard-30241057.html

 

[thenation]2014-08-16[/thenation]

[NongKhaiKid]

A law of international standard and enforcement of Thai standard ?

[chooka]

Just cut your loses and go home people.  You ordered a puppy but the farm has been closed down.  People go to lost dog homes and rescue abandoned dogs try treating humans the same and rescue one of them from an orphanage.

[noitom]

Thais are punting now on this surrogacy trade. It has world attention. What will the military dictatorship of Thailand do? The drama unfolds.

[simple1]

As commercial surrogacy is illegal in Australia, I do not understand why the Oz government is supporting their citizens with this practice in Thailand & elsewhere - anyone understand why?

 

In the meantime it has been reported surrogacy "is being used as a smokescreen to traffic children to Australia from India, Thailand, China, Malaysia and Ukraine, the Immigration Department has ­revealed"

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fears-surrogacy-hiding-scams/story-fn59niix-1227026240993

 

[chooka]

As commercial surrogacy is illegal in Australia, I do not understand why the Oz government is supporting their citizens with this practice in Thailand & elsewhere - anyone understand why?

 

In the meantime it has been reported surrogacy "is being used as a smokescreen to traffic children to Australia from India, Thailand, China, Malaysia and Ukraine, the Immigration Department has ­revealed"

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fears-surrogacy-hiding-scams/story-fn59niix-1227026240993

 

That is why it should be stamped out.  Do not allow people to bring the kids back to Aust

[Pib]

"Initially, Australia wants Thailand to have a surrogacy law that meets international standards," Charnchao said.

 

 

I doubt there are any international standards...just laws in certain countries which may be thought of as good laws in some peoples' opinion.  When it comes to surrogacy, public opinion varies widely around the world just like with opinions on abortion.  

 

And notice the use of the word, "initially" in the statement.  That's just a delaying tactic to hopefully get Thailand to do a lot of research on surrogacy laws (like in other countries) which means things would stay status quo for gosh knows how long, or worst yet, little to no change occur after the media go chasing another story.  

Edited August 16, 2014 by Pib

[Baerboxer]

As commercial surrogacy is illegal in Australia, I do not understand why the Oz government is supporting their citizens with this practice in Thailand & elsewhere - anyone understand why?

 

In the meantime it has been reported surrogacy "is being used as a smokescreen to traffic children to Australia from India, Thailand, China, Malaysia and Ukraine, the Immigration Department has ­revealed"

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fears-surrogacy-hiding-scams/story-fn59niix-1227026240993

 

 

The Australian government's attitude stinks. Are they trying to make this out to be Thai only problem.

 

It would be illegal in Australia but hey go overseas and come back with a farmed baby, no problem,

 

And as for "guaranteeing" that the procurers are not traffickers, how would they know? They let a convicted peado buy a daughter and bring her back.

 

Bishop seems to be saying it's illegal in Aussie, you need to make it illegal too, but in the meantime turn a blind eye so the 200 plus aren't inconvenienced. Is she for real? 

 

What is she really trying to do -divert attention from the somewhat less than "world class" Australian laws and enforcement?

[belg]

i would like to have another child, but my wife is already so fat and blubbery ... surrogacy would be great

 

just kidding