Introduction

Organ trafficking is a heinous violation of both human rights and medical ethics but nevertheless it remains, if not entirely forgotten, the oftenoverlooked element of trafficking in people. Though organ trafficking involves thousands of people globally, it gains far less attention in terms of research output and media coverage than any other element of people trafficking.

This chapter aims to raise the profile of organ trafficking among academics researching in human trafficking overall. It explains how the various elements of organ trafficking are defined and how they relate to and differ from transplant tourism and organ markets. Some of the most important international declarations on organ trafficking are outlined, alongside some selective national legislation. Shifting global patterns of organ trafficking are illustrated with an emphasis on Asia. Some of the difficulties in curbing such trafficking are then considered followed by some recommendations for increasing effective prevention, prosecution of perpetrators, and protection and support of victims.

Organ transplantation, human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal and organ trafficking

It is a medical truism that organ transplantation in the 21st century has become a victim of its own success. Since the first successful kidney transplant was carried out in 1954 (Merrill et al, 1956), organ transplantation has grown exponentially as a life-saving procedure across the globe. The World Health Organization’s Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation records the total number of solid organ transplants in 2019 at 153,863.

However, this is only a fraction of the ever-rising need for organs, a need greatly increased by the 2020– 1 COVID-19 pandemic. No country in the world, even prior to the pandemic, has been able to meet the demand for organs from within its own borders, except for Iran (Ghods and Mahdavi, 2007). If people know they will die from organ failure, some will not hesitate to acquire an organ illegally if they cannot get one legitimately within their own healthcare system. Organ traffickers know this and are only too willing to profit from their victims’ bodies being utilised to meet this demand. Regrettably, some healthcare professionals are also willing to either knowingly collude in organ trafficking for profit or at least turn a blind eye to it.