The Director of the Institute of Advanced Family Studies (IESF) at UIC Barcelona, Montserrat Gas, spoke at an International Congress organised by the Central European Academy held on 22 and 23 February in Kraków (Poland). Titled “Normative aspects of family protection and family development”, the conference was attended by more than 20 experts in family law, demography and sociology from 10 European countries.

Dr Gas focused her presentation on the evolution of family law in Western countries, and reflected on the paradigm shift that has taken place in this branch of law. Speaking on the matter, she stated that “we have moved from a natural paradigm to a paradigm of self-governing adult will and a technocratic paradigm”.

“The technocratic paradigm means that we satisfy the interests of biotechnology companies, a very visible phenomenon shown through assisted reproduction techniques and surrogacy, where the right to the child comes first, at any cost, and in any way”, said the expert.

Dr Gas stressed that we are witnessing a progressive shift away from natural Family Law, which removes the discipline from its original foundations. “The response to the challenges posed by this paradigm shift”, said the IESF Director, “should be a return to nature, as proposed by Pope Francis in the encyclical Laudato si’”.

Dr Gas gave examples of how appropriate policy measures can result in significant societal change, such as prioritising a reduction in tobacco consumption over the interests of manufacturers; and encouraging changes in mentality and ecological awareness, which make us rethink issues such as responsible consumption and healthy eating. “The reconstruction of family law would require a return to its natural foundations, respecting the dignity of people, especially children”, concluded the director of the IESF.