Mexico City, September 3, 2026.— The Universidad Panamericana hosted the Fourth International Conference on the Casablanca Declaration, a gathering that brought together experts from 73 countries to analyze the legal, ethical, and social implications of surrogacy, as well as the challenges related to human dignity and the protection of fundamental rights.
Over the course of two days, the auditorium at the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( Universidad Panamericana ) Mixcoac campus hosted specialists, academics, legal experts, psychiatrists, former special rapporteurs, and former members of United Nations committees, as well as representatives of civil society and experts from various countries.
The meeting focused on analyzing so-called reproductive exploitation—also referred to as “womb for rent,” “surrogacy,” or “surrogate motherhood”—from various academic, legal, and social perspectives.
An academic forum for reflecting on human dignity
In her opening remarks, María de la Salette Monjarás, coordinator of the Human Rights Center at the Universidad Panamericana, emphasized the importance of creating academic spaces that allow for the analysis of contemporary challenges and for questioning what kind of society we want to build when people’s dignity and fundamental rights are at stake.
When discussing surrogacy or reproductive exploitation, she noted that this practice is shaped by a convergence of scientific advances, personal decisions, family realities, and new social and cultural contexts.
At the same time, she raised questions related to human dignity, autonomy and freedom, vulnerability, the protection of women, and the identity and rights of girls and boys.
The scholar emphasized the need—both in academia and in forums for political, legislative, and social deliberation—to reaffirm a fundamental conviction: “Human dignity cannot depend on circumstances, economic status, the will of others, or the possibilities offered by technology.”
An Analysis of Surrogacy from a Human Rights Perspective
For his part, Abraham Madero Márquez, executive director of the Early Institute— a Mexican think tank specializing in early childhood and co-organizer of the Fourth Conference on the Casablanca Declaration, Mexico 2026—noted that the abolition of reproductive exploitation known as surrogacy, substitute motherhood, or “womb for rent” was, from the organization’s perspective, the need to address an issue that it considered contrary to the dignity and rights of women, girls, and boys.
“A woman’s body is not an object, much less a commodity, and the girls and boys born through these processes are not commodities to be sold to the highest bidder,” added Madero Márquez.
The executive director noted that the Early Institute had been studying the issue of the exploitation of women for reproductive purposes for nearly two decades and emphasized the need for legislative and legal reforms to protect the dignity and rights of the women, girls, and boys involved in these practices.
The United Nations' Perspective on Surrogacy
As part of the academic program, a video was shown featuring Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, who called for a review of strategies and an analysis of progress and new challenges related to the protection of human rights and human dignity in the context of surrogacy.
While warning of powerful international interests pushing for the legalization of surrogacy worldwide, the United Nations rapporteur said, “The world is beginning to become aware of the dangers posed by the legalization of surrogacy.”
Speaking before experts, academics, researchers, and civil society representatives who supported the Casablanca Declaration, Alsalem warned about the international interests driving the legalization of surrogacy and called for stronger protective measures. “We need to discuss our advocacy and engagement strategy. We must encourage countries around the world to make this issue a higher priority and adopt protective measures.”
For his part, Jorge Cardona Llorens, a former member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, presented a lecture titled “The Implications of Surrogacy for Children Born Through This Practice, ” in which he addressed these implications from the perspective of children’s rights.
Experts analyzed the legal frameworks in Latin America
As part of the activities, a roundtable discussion was held titled “Is Regulation Possible? A Latin American Overview of Legislative Proposals,” featuring Dr. Diana Muñoz of the University of La Sabana in Colombia; Dr. Lorena Bolzon of Austral University in Argentina; and Dr. María Sara Rodríguez of the University of the Andes in Chile.
The scholars analyzed current legislative initiatives from the perspective of comparative law and the protection of human rights.
The program continued with two panel discussions on the legal and ethical aspects of current regulations. The first, “Analysis of Draft Laws on Surrogacy, ” featured Dr. Francisco Vázquez Gómez of the National Institute of Legal Studies ( Universidad Panamericana) and Abraham Madero Márquez, M.A., of the Early Institute.
Subsequently, the panel discussion “Is There a Right to a Child?” brought together the academic perspectives of Gabriela Ruiz Serrano, M.A., from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and Dr. José Alberto Castillo.
The event also featured a keynote address by Verónica Toller, which analyzed surrogacy as a form of human trafficking, as well as a roundtable discussion with international experts and a firsthand account from a surrogate mother.
Universidad Panamericana, a forum for academic dialogue
The Fourth International Conference on the Casablanca Declaration, held at the University of the Andes ( Universidad Panamericana ), brought together a variety of academic and expert voices to discuss a topic of international significance, with an emphasis on its legal, ethical, and social dimensions.
Through its Human Rights Center, the institution created a forum for academic reflection on human dignity and the protection of fundamental rights.
