Within the global illegal organ trade

Sean Columb in The guard:

It is illegal to buy or sell an organ anywhere in the world, with the exception of Iran. However, estimates suggest that around 10% of organs for transplant come from illegal sources. However, most cases go unreported, so the true number is likely much higher.

Several countries, including Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Turkey, the Philippines and China, have been identified as centers of organ trafficking, but organ trafficking is a transnational operation. In its 2018 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime identified more than 700 cases of organ trafficking, the majority in the Middle East and North Africa. A 2021 Interpol report said organ trafficking was a particular problem in North and West Africa, “where impoverished communities and displaced populations are at greater risk of exploitation.”

According to the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT), only 10% of the global demand for transplants is met each year.

More here.

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