The Désir d’enfant show will open its doors on September 3 and 4 for the 3rd consecutive year. The two previous editions had created controversy around the GPA which the event was promoting.
The practice of surrogacy being prohibited in France, several associations had denounced the presence of agencies specialized in “surrogacy” and had alerted the public authorities… in vain and despite the red line displayed by the Keeper of the Seals, Eric Dupond-Moretti. Taking refuge behind the character purely informative and non-commercial” of the event, its organizers denied promoting surrogacy.
Since then, in December 2021, the President of the Republic has reaffirmed his opposition to the authorization of surrogacy in France because“it questions the dignity of the female body and its commodification”.
This year, the site’s homepage states that ” GPA will not be represented for this edition “.
Indeed, none of the 40 partner companies and associations announced officially offers the service of GPA. In the program of the conferences which will mark out the two days, nothing appears on this practice.
Exit then the GPA? Not quite since 3 signing sessions of one hour each will be devoted to books written by different members of the Mennesson family. As a reminder, the Mennesson couple used, in 2000 in California, not only a surrogate mother, but also an egg donor woman. ” Symbolic couple of surrogacy in France “, he obtained, by a judgment of the Court of Cassation of October 2019, the transcription into French law of the birth certificates of the twins Fiorella and Valentina. The latter will sign Me, Valentina, born by GPAon Saturday, then his parents will open the Sunday signing program with Banned from children, 20 years laterwhile Fiorella will close it with My family, surrogacy and me.
Contrary to the display, the show is therefore once again the relay of an illegal practice on our territory and which seriously undermines the dignity of women and children.
In addition, the event brings together the entire spectrum of the procreation market: treatments to boost fertility, IVF treatments, medical expertise, legal advice and psychological support. “It presents itself as a safe haven and guaranteeing “ ethical and medically sound advice “, allegedly in reverse of the digital jungle with its multiple options, “ unreliable and risky. However, the presence of a bank of gametes promising its future customers to be able to ” choose from the largest selection of donors in the world…with access to childhood photos, voice recordings and donor screening results. contradicts the supposedly ethical nature of the advice given during these two days. This presence is also a snub to French law which prohibits the trade in gametes.
Behind the proclaimed good intentions of supporting and accompanying access to parenthood, this event reveals the instrumentalization of the “desire for a child” by an economy of reproduction at the origin of a “business” that counts billions of dollars today.