Overview

• The Constitutional Court struck down parts of a 2004 law, allowing both members of a same-sex female couple who used IVF abroad to be legally recognized as parents in Italy.
• The ruling emphasized constitutional principles of equality and children's rights, ensuring non-biological mothers can be listed on birth certificates without adopting their partner's child.
• Domestic IVF remains restricted to heterosexual couples, and the court upheld the current ban on single women's access to IVF, leaving potential changes to parliament.
• This decision challenges the conservative policies of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, which has promoted traditional family values and restricted LGBTQ+ parental recognition.
• LGBTQ+ advocacy groups hailed the ruling as a significant step towards equality, though activists stress the need for further reforms, including recognition for same-sex male couples and surrogacy rights.