Wombs for Hire project
This cross-border investigation, originally published in Ms Magazine under the title “Wombs for Hire: Inside Europe’s Underground Surrogacy Networks” explores the surrogacy market expanding across Turkey, Georgia, and Northern Cyprus. The report highlights how inconsistent legal frameworks and regulatory gaps facilitate widespread exploitation, medical malpractice, and abuse.
The piece highlights the stark legal disparities across countries, where the legality of surrogacy varies greatly. While commercial arrangements remain banned under EU regulations, altruistic forms are permitted in a few states under strict conditions. It also exposes the emergence of coercive and deceptive practices, including sham procedures, trafficking, pressure on surrogate women, and inadequate consent mechanisms.
Turkish version
In Turkey, where the illegal trade is organized and public debate on surrogacy is limited, the Turkish version of the report triggered national attention. It was the first in-depth story on the topic in the Turkish media. The story was widely shared, praised by well-known journalists and academics, and cited by the Women’s Commission of the Turkish Medical Association, which plans to include it in an institutional report.
Spanish version
In Spain, where surrogacy is banned, the Spanish version helped raise awareness among European audiences. Many Spanish citizens seek surrogacy arrangements in Georgia and Northern Cyprus, often unaware of the legal vacuum and exploitative conditions. Publishing the story in Spanish was a strategic effort to inform and alert the public across Europe.
About the investigation
Methodology
To investigate the surrogacy market in Turkey, Georgia, and Northern Cyprus, the team used a multifaceted approach involving documentary analysis, undercover reporting, and fieldwork. Multiple Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were submitted, but many went unanswered, leading to alternative methods such as undercover communication with fertility clinics, review of legal files, and collaboration with local civil society for documentation.
Extensive on-the-ground reporting in Georgia and Northern Cyprus included interviews with surrogates, doctors, lawyers, activists, and NGO workers. Real-time digital monitoring tools were also used to track surrogacy-related content and news. To add a political perspective, direct interviews were conducted with members of parliament in Georgia and Northern Cyprus, alongside additional FOI requests to the Ministries of Health.
This combination of FOI requests, legal analysis, and field investigations revealed the human cost of this unregulated industry, amplifying the voices of women silenced by systemic failures and exposing the structural gaps that enable exploitation.
Awards
The investigation has earned significant acclaim, winning the Special Jury Prize at the 28th Metin Göktepe Journalism Awards in Turkey. Wombs for Hire was also shortlisted as one of the three finalists for the Helen Darbishire Award 2025 in the Women’s Rights category—a prestigious European honor recognizing impactful use of the right to information.
Funding
This cross-border investigation was supported by the IJ4EU (Investigative Journalism for Europe) fund and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). The project received financial backing from these organizations, enabling in-depth reporting on reproductive rights and surrogacy practices across multiple countries.
Impact
This investigation has sparked significant public debate on reproductive rights, drawing attention to legal loopholes and unethical practices in the surrogacy market. The story has also attracted international interest, with journalists from various countries contacting us for background materials and insights, establishing it as a reference point for cross-border reporting on reproductive rights.
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Seda Karatabanoglu 