Serbian PM says ban on IVF for homosexuals an old issue

The Council of Europe said in a report released on Wednesday that homosexuals in Serbia have been banned by the Health Ministry from undergoing artificial insemination procedures in the country, effectively preventing them from having children, since August 2019.

“As far as I know if I’m not mistaken, that is an issue which is more than a year old and I think the Gender Equality Commissioner launched proceedings. I know the Health Ministry reacted but I don’t know anything more because the competent institutions did their job. I would have to check. As Prime Minister I believe that institutions will deal with this and resolve it in line with the law and all the standards of a European country,” Brnabic said.

The CoE report said that the Health Ministry imposed a ban on artificial insemination and IVF, for anyone who has a history of homosexual relations during the last five years, adding that the decree effectively bans same-sex couples from having children unless they travel abroad to undergo the necessary medical procedures.

Brnabic and her same-sex partner had a baby by IVF in February 2019. According to unofficial reports which were never denied, Brnabic’s partner underwent the procedure abroad.