The Conclusions put forward a first catalogue of procreative rights based on the claims successfully asserted in international case law to date. Obstacles to the development of procreative rights are also considered, from jurisdictional issues (such as the recognition of the subsidiary nature of international human rights law and States’ margin of appreciation in sensitive areas) to certain underlying assumptions in the judicial analysis (e.g. the importance of marriage as a foundation for intentional non-genetic parenthood). Finally, this closing chapter examines incipient and potential rights, that is, claims which have not yet been raised in international litigation (some currently pending in Strasbourg) or which were left to the discretion of national legislatures. Although many procreative rights are still aspirational in nature, it is suggested that the continuously evolving interpretation of the ECHR, aligning its requirements with medical advances and social perceptions, will eventually expand the scope of procreative autonomy in international law.

The Introduction provides an overview of the conceptual background and main themes of the book. It briefly considers the advances in assisted reproduction technology (e.g. in vitro fertilisation and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) and their benefits for aspiring parents. It suggests that these scientific developments not only have led to the emergence of new trends in bioethical politics, but have also inspired claims in the international human rights arena. In fact, an increasing number of legal cases, most notably in the European Convention on Human Rights system, has started to establish a set of rights in connection with access to medically assisted procreation; they are an extension of autonomy rights, the right to respect for family life and non-discrimination rights. The Introduction offers a synopsis of each chapter, outlining the key bioethical and legal controversies examined therein, as well as the central arguments proposed by the book in light of international litigation.