- Date: 29, 30 November and 1 December 2023
- Location: Sierre, Switzerland and online with simultaneous interpretation in English, French & German
Arguments:
This international symposium aims to provide an overview of the various practices and legislation that regulate the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART), ranging from the most restrictive to the most liberal, alongside related issues. The symposium will ask several questions. What identity issues may arise for children conceived through ART? How can we ensure respect for their rights as outlined in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol? What are the real consequences for parents who circumvent the prohibitions outlined in the Convention, especially with regard to surrogacy? What are the rules governing these practices in countries where such reproductive technologies are permitted or tolerated? What lessons can be learned from adoption law to regulate the use of ART? What are the experiences and feelings of children conceived through ART and how do they fit in with their families? How can professionals who work with these children and their families best support them? The focus will be on children's rights, their experiences and those of their families and the role of professionals in countries like Switzerland, where legislation is somewhat restrictive. Finally, examples of international practices will be presented to highlight the complexity and diversity of such practices.
Objectives:
This event aims to hold a proactive interdisciplinary dialogue between stakeholders (children who are now adults as a result of ART, professionals, parents who have recourse to ART, politicians, academia) that will meet to discuss children’s rights and the new ART techniques; to highlight good practices as well as the abuses that allow or compromise the respect of the rights of the children concerning both their identity and their family life; to deepen the scientific and legal knowledge in this field; to give concrete tools to the professionals who work with these children and their families.
Target audience:
This conference is intended for political decision-makers and professionals working with and for children and young people (social workers, psychologists, teachers, doctors, mediators, lawyers, and any other professional concerned with children's issues), as well as representatives of the academic and scientific community.
