Human TraffickingNews

Human trafficking for the purposes of organ removal

Trafficking in Persons for the purpose of organ removal (TIP for OR) is a form of trafficking in which an individual is exploited for their organ, including by coercion, deception and abuse of a position of vulnerability. TIP for OR is a serious crime which demeans human dignity and the value of human life by exploiting vulnerable persons for the financial gain of the traffickers. UNODC flagship 2020 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons indicated an increasing prevalence of reported cases of TIP for OR, although existing barriers to reporting suggest that the full scale of this phenomenon is not yet known.

To support Member States to better detect, investigate and prosecute cases of TIP for OR, UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP) in collaboration with the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) organized in Bangkok, Thailand a regional consultation on addressing TIP for OR in Southeast Asia and beyond.

For several years, UNODC has been delivering technical and legislative assistance to support criminal justice responses to TIP for organ removal as part of its role as guardian of the UN TIP Protocol and mandate to support Member States in its implementation. In recent years, in the framework of GLO.ACT, UNODC commenced the development of a Toolkit on the Investigation and Prosecution of TIP for OR, which is now in its final draft stage. The toolkit consists of a manual, a virtual reality video tool and interview protocols. It has been created for criminal justice practitioners who play a crucial role in addressing TIP for OR.