This conference, organised by Cambridge Family Law together with the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Family Law, explored a range of issues and challenges surrounding the law and practice of national and international surrogacy from a practical perspective. Practitioners, lawmakers, academics and other participants will discuss the legal consequences of the rise in surrogacy arrangements and, in particular, reproductive tourism.

For more information about the conference see:

https://www.family.law.cam.ac.uk/research-and-eventspast-events/international-surrogacy-forum-2019

This recording is from Part II – The Tolerant Approach, with Claire Fenton-Glynn (Cambridge, UK) giving the UK perspective.

Claire is a University Lecturer and Fellow in Law at Jesus College, University of Cambridge. She specialises in human rights and the protection of children, in particular focusing on issues such as intercountry adoption, international surrogacy, and cross-border child protection, as well as children's rights under the European Court of Human Rights. At the core of this research is the interaction between international and regional human rights instruments and domestic law, and the way in which these frameworks can be used to implement children's rights. Her first book, "Children's Rights in Intercountry Adoption" was awarded the Inner Temple Book Prize for New Authors, as well as the Faculty of Law's Yorke Prize.

Claire has worked as a consultant on issues concerning child protection, human rights, and rule of law with organisations such as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Union, Save the Children and Avocats sans Frontières. She is the co-editor of ‘Eastern and Western Perspectives on Surrogacy’ which was published in 2019.’

This conference, organised by Cambridge Family Law together with the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Family Law, explored a range of issues and challenges surrounding the law and practice of national and international surrogacy from a practical perspective. Practitioners, lawmakers, academics and other participants will discuss the legal consequences of the rise in surrogacy arrangements and, in particular, reproductive tourism.

For more information about the conference see:

https://www.family.law.cam.ac.uk/research-and-eventspast-events/international-surrogacy-forum-2019

This recording is from Part IV – The Regulatory Approach, with Robynne Friedman (Robynne Friedman Attorneys, Johannesburg, South Africa) commentating and giving a personal perspective.

Robynne Friedman is a surrogacy law specialist practitioner in the Republic of South Africa, practising for her own account. Robynne has assisted in excess of four hundred parents with the legal and procedural aspects of surrogacy in the RSA. She has been involved in leading surrogacy cases that have culminated in legal precedents in RSA. Robynne is a mother through surrogacy and through her personal experience has been able to assist her clients on a highly personal level. Robynne has founded a Non- Profit Organisation which offers support and advice to infertile persons and surrogate mothers on all aspects of surrogacy.

Robynne has been involved in the first constitutional court case involving surrogacy in the RSA in an attempt to broaden the interpretation of the genetic link requirement of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. Robynne has presented papers on the working practical aspects of surrogacy at local and international family law conferences. Robynne has spoken at Reproductive medicine conferences and embryologist meetings locally. Robynne has spoken extensively to the media on the subject of surrogacy in attempt to educate the population on surrogacy in an endeavour to remove cultural taboos surrounding the practice of surrogacy in the RSA.

Robynne offers support and guidance to the Reproductive Medicine Clinics in RSA on the legalities of surrogacy and gamete donation.