Last week, the Council of Europe adopted a convention against the trafficking of human organs. It will come into force once all Member States have signed, i.e. between the end of 2014 and the start of 2015. “The purpose of this convention is to prevent and combat the trafficking of human organs by criminalising certain acts, protecting victims’ rights and facilitating co-operation at national and international level”.
Victims’ protection. The Member States must guarantee victims access to “relevant personal information”, assistance in their rehabilitation or compensation from the perpetrators.
The convention allows Member States to assess whether or not they wish to monitor organ donors, considering them as victims or traffic accomplices. It will come into force “once it has been signed by at least 5 Member States including 3 members of the Council of Europe”.
Le Quotidien du Médecin (Colline Garré) 11/07/2014