Forced organ harvesting and organ trafficking are brutal crimes. Victims have their organs removed, through coercion or force, which are then sold in the illegal organ trade to unsuspecting buyers, desperate for a transplant.
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View the campaign here: https://www.freedomunited.org/advocate/forced-organ-harvesting/ |
Disturbingly, the Chinese government is amongst the perpetrators of these crimes. Political prisoners, ethnic Uyghurs, and Falun Gong (Buddhist Qi Gong) practitioners are known to be victims of forced organ harvesting where they are killed in the process.
But the U.K. could help disrupt the organ trafficking market. New proposed legislation would prevent U.K. citizens from travelling abroad to receive any “controlled material, for the purpose of organ transplantation when the organ donor has not provided free, informed and specific consent.”[1] |
Earlier this year we were pleased to see the U.K. government back an amendment to give authorities greater powers to prevent forced organ harvesting from impacting the U.K. healthcare system.[2]
This was the first action taken by the government following the China Tribunal judgement that concluded:[3] |
| “Forced organ harvesting has been committed for years throughout China on a significant scale,” calling the crimes “of unmatched wickedness – on a death for death basis.” |
Now, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath’s Organ Tourism and Cadavers on Display Bill[4] introduced into the UK parliament’s upper house – the House of Lords – could be the next significant step taken by the U.K. to tackle forced organ harvesting and organ trafficking at the international level.
The Bill is due to have its second reading on July 16 – share the campaign to show that the public strongly supports firm action to tackle organ trafficking.
Organ transplant ‘tourism’ is known to be a driver of the illicit organ trade but, despite the clear evidence of organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting, people continue to go abroad for organ transplants where the source of the organ cannot be verified.
National governments have a responsibility to prevent their own citizens from receiving transplants abroad where organ trafficking persists and where victims include political prisoners, ethnic minorities, and persecuted religious communities.
It is unconscionable that these brutal crimes continue to be perpetrated systematically, exploiting both the buyer and the victims’ desperation. Only seven countries to date have passed legislation to tackle organ trafficking at the international level.
Let’s keep up the pressure to see the U.K. be next.
Share the campaign today.
In solidarity,
Miriam and the Freedom United team |
