Cambodia Sentences 13 Pregnant Filipino Women to Four Years in Jail for Surrogacy
Crackdown on Outlawed Practice
A Cambodian court has sentenced 13 pregnant Filipino women to four years in prison for acting as surrogate mothers, in the latest crackdown on the outlawed practice. The 13 were among 24 foreign women detained by Cambodian police in Kandal province in September and charged with attempted cross-border human trafficking.
Trial and Sentence
Following a trial, the court on Monday sentenced the 13 to "four years in prison", although two years of the sentence would be suspended, according to a statement from the Kandal court. The court said it had strong evidence showing that the 13 "have the intention… to have babies to sell to a third person in exchange for money, which is an act of human trafficking".
Accomplice Jailed
A Cambodian woman, who cooked meals for the Filipino women, was also jailed for two months and one day for being an accomplice, the court said. Seven other Filipino and four Vietnamese women, who were not pregnant, have been deported from Cambodia, Chou Bun Eng, vice-chair of Cambodia’s National Committee for Counter Trafficking, told AFP on Tuesday.
Background on Commercial Surrogacy
In 2016, Cambodia issued a snap ban on commercial surrogacy after neighbouring Thailand pulled the plug on the trade the previous year — putting an abrupt end to a thriving industry for hopeful parents, many from Australia and the United States. However, demand for commercial surrogacy remains high after China eased its one-child policy and agencies in Cambodia continue to offer the service.
Pricing and Demand
Sources in the kingdom have previously told AFP that couples — mostly from China — are willing to pay between $40,000 to $100,000 to surrogacy agents to find a Cambodian woman who can carry their child. In 2018, an Australian nurse who ran a surrogacy clinic was jailed for 18 months in Cambodia. Dozens of Cambodian women paid to carry babies for Chinese clients were also arrested in recent years but they were released on bail after agreeing to keep the children.
Conclusion
The Cambodian government’s crackdown on commercial surrogacy is part of its efforts to combat human trafficking and protect the rights of women and children. The country’s ban on commercial surrogacy has been in place since 2016, but the practice continues to persist, with agencies and individuals still offering the service to foreign couples.
FAQs
Q: What is commercial surrogacy?
A: Commercial surrogacy is the practice of carrying a pregnancy for another person or couple, often in exchange for a fee.
Q: Is commercial surrogacy legal in Cambodia?
A: No, commercial surrogacy is illegal in Cambodia and has been banned since 2016.
Q: How many people have been arrested for commercial surrogacy in Cambodia?
A: Dozens of Cambodian women have been arrested for carrying babies for Chinese clients, but many have been released on bail after agreeing to keep the children.
Q: What is the punishment for engaging in commercial surrogacy in Cambodia?
A: Those found guilty of engaging in commercial surrogacy in Cambodia can face up to four years in prison, as seen in the recent case of the 13 pregnant Filipino women.