The Interfaith Council of Albania has issued a statement outlining its objections to the draft law on "Sexual and Reproductive Health." The council urges the country's authorities to reconsider the main provisions of the bill and to include representatives of traditional religions in its discussions.

Public debate on this draft law has been ongoing for a month. Among other measures, the bill proposes the legalization of surrogacy, which has sparked protests from the Church and various public organizations. On May 23, a rally against surrogacy took place in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, reported by Vox. Participants collected signatures for a petition to ban this practice and plan to submit it to the country's parliament, with a copy to be sent to the president.

Representatives from the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, as well as evangelicals and Muslims (both Sunnis and Bektashis), expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that public discussion of the bill began without prior consultations with religious communities and other interested parties.

According to the Albanian Church's website, a working group from the Interfaith Council has reviewed the draft law and proposed several measures to the government to protect citizens' reproductive health within the framework of traditional values. Primarily, the Church suggests a complete ban on surrogacy and the inclusion in the law of the concept of family as a union of a father, mother, and their children.

To increase birth rates, the Church proposes supporting the population through additional social, economic, educational, and medical measures. Furthermore, the Church recommends raising awareness about the undesirability of abortions, except in cases where there are medical indications and the mother's life is at risk.

Additionally, the Church suggests banning sterilization as a method of contraception, except in cases where there are medical indications and at the request of the individual adult.

Photo: knfsh.al