The police arrested the group after breaking into an apartment in the capital. The charges were "human trafficking and intermediation for surrogacy". Some of the women gave birth behind bars. If they tried to sell the little ones, for them a trial and at least 15 years in prison.

phnom penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Cambodian authorities released on bail 11 surrogate mothers, after the women agreed to raise the children they gave birth to. This was announced yesterday by the National Committee against Human Trafficking. Last November, the police had arrested the group after the raid on an apartment in Phnom Penh: the charges were "human trafficking and intermediation for surrogacy". In prison since his arrest, some of the women gave birth behind bars.

Chou Bun Eng, vice-president of the anti-trafficking committee, said yesterday that the mothers refused to confess to the authorities on behalf of whom they carried the children. “They were released on bail last month, after having promised not to abandon the little ones", the official said. The women risk going to trial “at any time, if they try to sell them". Activist groups criticize authorities for forcing women to raise children to whom they have no biological ties, to avoid prison. Chou Bun Eng replied that, according to Cambodian law, they are required to take care of it. “They are their mothers”, he underlined.

In December 2018, the authorities had released others from prison 32 donne. Even in their case, the conditions for release required compliance with the duties of a mother. If the agreements are not honored, the expected sentence is at least 15 years in prison. In Cambodia, Commercial surrogacy has been illegal since 2016. However, the country remains a popular destination for infertile couples trying to have children. Mostly from China, they are willing to pay between 40 thousand and 100 thousand US dollars to agencies and mediators, to find a Cambodian woman who can handle the pregnancy for them. Surrogate mothers typically come from poor communities and receive only a small portion of the amount paid to intermediaries, usually between 10 and the 15 thousand dollars.

source – http://www.centrostudifederici.org/la-tratta-delle-schiave/