Conflict of interest at the Council of Europe: rapporteur on surrogacy report is involved in surrogacy practices in Belgium

AUTHOR: EUROPEANPOST - 25 JANUARY 2016

Conflict of interest at the Council of Europe: rapporteur on surrogacy report is involved in surrogacy practices in Belgium

What is happening?

A motion of resolution signed by 23 Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe asked the Assembly “to further examine the issues arising from the practice of surrogacy, especially its links with the reproductive health of women, human trafficking and the rights of children, and discuss tools for addressing the problem”.

PACE Assembly decided to draft a report on “Human Rights and ethical issues related to surrogacy” following the motion of resolution.

The rapporteur appointed is Belgian senator Petra De Sutter.

What is the main problem?

The Council of Europe’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development decided to discuss the possibility of a conflict of interest of the rapporteur Petra De Sutter (Belgium) on “Human Rights and ethical issues related to surrogacy”. The debate will take place on Wednesday.

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Why?

The Belgian senator Petra De Sutter has already openly confirmed that she is involved in surrogacy practices in in the University Hospital Ghent where she works.

Lergal framework

Rapporteurs, under article 1.1.1 of the code of conduct, must ‘not have any economic, commercial, financial or other interests, on a professional, personal or family level, connected with the subject of the report, and obligation to declare any relevant interests”. (Code of conduct of rapporteurs)