The fact that we live in an era where human values and dignity are sacrificed at the altar of profit is not news. However, the fact that Greece is practically challenging a serious aspect of this dominant ideology by taking the initiative to combat the shame of human organ trafficking and finds an ally in the European Parliament is good news. Members of the European Parliament still remember, compare, and refer to the Greek Presidency as the best one ever. Many call it a model presidency. Thus, the proposal for a common European legislative framework to prevent and suppress the trafficking of human organs and tissues, a very difficult issue given the variety of criminal laws in the EU, easily secured the overwhelming majority of MEPs. It remains to be seen what the final decision of the Council will be and how the shame of human organ “markets” will be addressed, and above all, how the activities of internationally organized criminal networks involved in abductions and murders, primarily of children, for the purpose of selling their organs will be tackled.

The European Parliament, while supporting the main objectives of the Greek proposal, also complemented it with safeguards to ensure that donors are not discouraged. It is well known that there has been a decline in the number of organ transplants in Europe in recent years. In Greece, the average waiting time for a kidney transplant exceeds eight years. The biggest problem mainly exists in liver and heart transplants. In these cases, many patients die while waiting for a transplant.

Organized crime exploits this situation by offering solutions through transplant tourism and transactions with complex trafficking networks. In Pakistan, state legislation allows the trafficking of human organs, while it is a well-known secret that in India (where a prohibitive law was passed two years ago), Brazil, South Africa, and China, the largest “markets” for organs operate.

In the EU, Article 3 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights explicitly states the “prohibition of the commodification of the human body and its parts for profit.” However, intense phenomena of profiteering and violations of human dignity are also present in the EU, particularly in candidate countries, where economic pressure on economically destitute groups contributes to the flourishing of the illegal and abhorrent activities of dark networks.

Beyond these, of course, the impacts on public health must also be taken into account. Organ donation from living donors can create serious side effects on their health, and when the donor’s medical history is not disclosed, risks arise for the recipient. This is why the European Parliament’s amendment, stating that trafficking also violates the citizens’ right to equal access to healthcare services and undermines their trust in the legitimate transplant system, holds particular value.

Without a doubt, we need a common stance at the EU level, an approach to criminal legislation that varies from one member state to another, strict penalties, and international cooperation to combat the abhorrent phenomenon of human organ trafficking.

At the same time, however, we need to develop actions at the level of public information and awareness. Illegal trafficking of human organs would certainly not exist if more citizens were willing to donate organs and tissues after their death. Therefore, awareness campaigns are needed at both the national and European levels, aimed at convincing people to become donors and to inform their families or loved ones of their wishes in a timely manner.

The issuance of a community directive will create the appropriate legal framework, thus providing a new basis for addressing the problem of the thousands of people who are crowded on organ transplant waiting lists. Kudos to the Ministry of Justice for raising this issue with our European partners.

Anna Karamanou – MEP, PASOK

President of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

www.karamanou.gr