Berlin's Wish for a Baby fair sparks outrage over illegal fertility services
A controversial fertility fair titled Wish for a Baby is set to take place in Berlin on March 7 and 8. The event, featuring over 50 exhibitors, will showcase services including surrogacy and donor eggs—both of which remain illegal in Germany. Meanwhile, two separate counter-protests have been organised in response to the fair's content and broader political debates.
The event has already drawn criticism after a linked conference, *Modern Reproductive Techniques*, presented dubious claims and fostered alliances between anti-abortion activists and certain feminist groups.
The Wish for a Baby fair will offer a range of fertility treatments, though organisers have not disclosed the origins of egg cells, sperm, or other medical materials. Many of these services, such as surrogacy and egg donation, violate German law.
Ahead of the fair, a conference co-hosted by the Minimal Invasive Center Hünhfeld and the anti-abortion group *Aktion Lebensrecht für alle* (Alfa e.V.) raised concerns. Speakers focused less on medical evidence and more on business, legal, and theological perspectives. One presenter, Andreas Weber, argued that artificial fertilisation lacks the same effects as natural conception, even claiming the soul enters the egg via sperm. Another, Anna Kovačová, discussed a boy's developmental delays in a case study but provided no clear proof linking them to his conception. The conference also revealed an unexpected alliance between radical anti-abortion activists and some differential feminists. Throughout the day, attendees reported queerphobic and transphobic remarks. In response, two counter-protests are planned. On March 7, Alfa e.V. will demonstrate outside Berlin's Estrel Congress Center in Neukölln. The following day, *Netzwerk Frauenrechte e.V.* and other feminist organisations will protest against Germany's proposed Self-Determination Act. The event comes as surveys show over 32% of Germans aged 20 to 50 still hope to have children but face unfulfilled desires.
The Wish for a Baby fair has sparked debate over ethical and legal boundaries in fertility treatments. With illegal services on offer and counter-protests scheduled, the event highlights tensions between reproductive rights, medical transparency, and political activism. Organisers have yet to address concerns about the sourcing of medical materials or the validity of claims made during the linked conference.
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