The International Solidarity Forum (ISF) is World Youth Alliance’s annual international youth conference and training event. The forum brings together participants from around the world for workshops, lectures, and discussions with experts on topics relevant to ongoing international policy debates. Through advocacy training and UN-style negotiations, participants deepen their understanding of key global issues and collaborate to draft a joint outcome declaration.
The 24th annual International Solidarity Forum will take place in New York City from March 1–5, 2027. The theme of the 2027 ISF is “From Conception: WYA International Solidarity Forum on Surrogacy”. In addition to expert lectures and panel discussions, the ISF will feature UN-style negotiations by region to draft a joint declaration on the theme. WYA will also offer advocacy training, group discussions, and inter-regional dialogue to equip participants to engage thoughtfully and effectively in policy discussions.
Why Surrogacy?
In recent decades, the deep human desire to have children has increasingly been met with a growing reliance on medical and technological interventions that reshape the way human life begins. Surrogacy, in particular, is often presented as a solution to infertility and other barriers to parenthood. Yet beyond this framing, it raises serious concerns about the dignity of the human person, the meaning of parenthood, and the protection of the rights of women and children.
At its core, surrogacy introduces contractual arrangements into relationships that have traditionally been understood as the most intimate and personal. It separates the biological, gestational, and social dimensions of motherhood, fragmenting a unity that is integral to the dignity of the human person. In doing so, it risks reducing both women and children to objects of agreement rather than subjects of inherent worth. The practice also involves significant power imbalances between the parties involved, particularly in commercial contexts, where economic disparities can shape and constrain decision-making.
Globally, surrogacy is regulated in vastly different ways. Most countries prohibit it entirely, others allow only so-called altruistic arrangements, and some have permitted commercial surrogacy markets to develop. These disparities have contributed to the growth of cross-border surrogacy, where individuals travel to jurisdictions with permissive laws. From the perspective of children’s rights, surrogacy raises important considerations regarding identity, parentage, and the right to know and be cared for by one’s parents.
Recent international discussions, including those at the United Nations, show a growing awareness of the risks associated with surrogacy, particularly in relation to exploitation, coercion, and the well-being of women and children. These concerns cannot be ignored and must be addressed in law and policy. The 2027 ISF will guide participants in exploring these issues and identifying approaches that respond to these concerns while upholding human dignity and protecting the rights of women and children.
