In Italy, ten years on from the introduction of law 40 relating to assisted procreation (2004), pro-life associations declare their satisfaction. They are launching an appeal to protect embryos and to put a stop to "Far West procreation".
On a wider note, they confirm that, whilst a debate on the future of law 40 and medically assisted procreation is essential, this "should not be reduced to a question of ideology or a contentious issue but should be geared towards the wellbeing of women and children".
As far as Carlo Casini, President of the Movement for Life (MfL) is concerned, it should be remembered that the "cornerstone" is Article 1 of law 40 which seeks to "recognise the unborn child as a person whose dignity and rights are paramount in overcoming Far West procreation. The child is a person in exactly the same way as the mother and father". With this in mind, Carlo Casini is calling for "the legal and cultural debate surrounding law 40 not to overlook article 1 or at least not to avoid the fundamental question relating to the unborn child: a human being or an object? A person or an object? An end or a means?”
Finally, he states that recognition of the unborn child as a person constitutes "an affirmation […] in accordance with the "One of Us" initiative, the success of which – two million signatures collected in 29 states of the European Community – bears evidence to the desire to build a new Europe".
