Human trafficking for

the purpose of organ removal

Jessica de Jongjessica.de.jong@politie.nl

HOTT project

An international scientific research project into human trafficking for the

purpose of organ removal, funded by the European Commission

and led by the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands.

Many international

associated partners,

such as Europol and

the National Police

of the Netherlands

Objectives

Increasing knowledge, raising awareness and improving the non-legislative response by:

• writing a literature research;• conducting a study on transplant tourism;• analyzing prosecuted cases (in South Africa, Kosovo, USA and Israel);• writing indicators and recommendations.

Publications

• Literature review – December 2013• Report on transplant tourism – November 2014• Case study report – November 2014• Indicators and recommendations – August 2015(Soon) available at www.hottproject.com

Report of the National Police of the Netherlands – December 2014Trade in human organs and human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal: An exploratory study into the involvement of the Netherlands and Europe.

Soon available at www.hottproject.com

Article 3 Palermo Protocol

(a) ‘Trafficking in persons’ shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

(b) The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth in subparagraph (a) of this article shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) have been used.

Actors

Recipients

Donors

Brokers

Transplant professionals

Other facilitators:

hospitals, service providers,

translators, law enforcement

The relations among the different actors are complex and varying,

with some individuals occasionally acting in multiple roles,

e.g. former donors and hospitals may operate as brokers.

Trailer: Tales from the Organ Trade

Recipients

“Knowledge about the incidence, nature and scope of patients’ involvement

in human trafficking for organ removal is limited.”

Main destination countries: China, Pakistan and India

Motivations: dialysis/waiting list

Contact through other patients, family, friends, brokers, Internet

Amounts paid: $40,000- $200,000

Source: Shimazono, Second Global Consultation on Human Transplantation, WHO Genève, 2007

Donors

“Commercial donors are almost without exception subject to exploitation.”

They originate predominantly from poor developing countries:

India, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Russia, Egypt,

Romania, Moldova, Kosovo, Turkey, Israel, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, etc.

Poor, low level of education, relatively young age (30), usually men

(Promised) amounts: $ 1,000-$20,000

Brokers

“The presence of a broker is likely to enhance the exploitation of donors.”

Brokers may also include doctors, hospitals and matching agencies

“Licensed transplant professionals (many of them top-notch) are reported to

have the role of brokers, facilitators - key players in transplant schemes.”

Easy to find persons willing to sell, donors approach brokers as well

Other activities: locate transplant centre and accomodation, arrange

transport, medical examination and travel documents, when needed

Donors are often misled about the procedure and impact of donation

and do often not receive after care or the agreed amount of money

“Brokers are claimed to financially benefit the most from the transactions.”

Financial profitability

1. Drugs $320 billion2. Counterfeiting $250 billion3. Humans $31.6 billion4. Oil $10.8 billion5. Wildlife $7.8 to $10 billion6. Timber $7 billion7. Fish $4.2 to $9.5 billion8. Art and Cultural Property $3.4 to $6.3 billion9. Gold $2.3 billion10. Human Organs $614 million to $1.2 billion11. Small Arms & Light Weapons $300 million to $1 billion12. Diamonds & Colored Gemstones $860 million

According to the WHO, 5 to 10 percent of the kidney transplantsperformed worldwide is illegal (roughly estimated for the year 2005).

Pakistan

Afghanistan

Schiphol

- surgeon- specialized in kidney transplants- own private clinic in Pakistan- operates on Afghan refugees- permission to operate abroad- > 100.000 dollar bank account

Indicators trafficking for organ removal

- recruited in refugee camp- medical tests before the journey- return ticket, valid for three weeks