Protection of persons targeted or trafficked for the purpose of organ removal: Recommendations

Assya Pascalev, Kristof Van Assche, Judit Sándor, Natalia Codreanu, Anwar Naqvi, Martin Gunnarson, Mihaela Frunza, Jordan Yankov

The primary purpose of the recommendations presented hereafter is to contribute to the development of a non-legislative response to trafficking in human beings for the purpose of organ removal (hereafter THBOR) by focusing on the necessary measures to ensure the protection of victims of THBOR. Guided by the definition of THBOR given in the United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, we posit that an individual who parts with an organ (usually a kidney) for money within an illegal scheme becomes ipso facto a victim. Our aim is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the area of victim protection, which could help the relevant target groups to identify, detect and protect individuals, who have been victims of THBOR, or are targeted for THBOR. It is our hope that the recommendations will help policy makers and other authorities at the EU level to develop a policy-driven EU action plan for the protection of victims of THBOR in the EU and in the respective countries of origin and transfer of victims.