Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has turned down a proposal to permit fertility treatments, including surrogacy, for individuals aged 18 to 20, recommending instead that the minimum age be set at 21 years.
The Commission voiced concerns that allowing access to such treatments at 18 years old may be premature, suggesting that teenagers in this age range might lack the maturity needed to make well-informed decisions regarding their reproductive health.
The UHRC emphasized that raising the age limit would help ensure that individuals are better prepared for the responsibilities involved in fertility treatments.
During a press briefing, Ruth Ssekindi, Director of Monitoring and Inspection at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), outlined the reasoning behind the Commission’s stance on raising the minimum age for fertility treatments to 21.
Ssekindi explained that the Commission believes individuals aged 18 to 20 may not possess the emotional and mental maturity necessary to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
By setting the minimum age at 21, the UHRC aims to ensure that those seeking fertility treatments, including surrogacy, are better equipped to handle the complexities and responsibilities involved.
“The Commission knows that the youths in the ages of 18, 19, and 20 are very gullible and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. If you remember yourselves at 18, could you make good decisions about reproduction? I think as Ugandans, we should make laws that are commensurate and fit into our context. The majority of our youths between 18-20 years are also still in High School and have just joined Tertiary Institutions,” Ssekindi noted.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has argued that fertility treatments, including surrogacy, require a high level of emotional, physical, and psychological maturity, which is more likely to be found in individuals aged 21 and above.
The Commission emphasized that raising the minimum age from 18 to 21 would protect younger individuals from potential exploitation and abuse within the fertility industry, which involves complex ethical and financial considerations.
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This recommendation comes as part of ongoing debates in Uganda regarding the appropriate age for individuals to make informed reproductive decisions. While some stakeholders advocate for granting 18-year-olds more autonomy, the UHRC and others believe that a higher age limit is essential to safeguard the welfare of young people.
The UHRC has called on lawmakers to take into account Uganda’s specific context and challenges when drafting laws on reproductive health services, urging them to prioritize the protection of vulnerable youth as discussions continue.
