Today, on the International Day Against Organ Trafficking, we renew our commitment to fight one of the most disturbing criminal phenomena of our time. Organ trafficking is not just a grave violation of human dignity and human rights, it has become a global industry that takes advantage of vulnerable people and weakens trust in healthcare systems. Because this transnational crime knows no borders, our response must be global and united.

The Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs, known as the Santiago de Compostela Convention, remains the world’s only binding international instrument dedicated specifically to criminalising organ trafficking. It addresses illicit organ removal, prohibits financial gain associated with organ procurement and strengthens preventive, protective and cooperative measures among States.

Recent developments remind us that our work is far from complete. Around the world, troubling new trends continue to reveal the scale, advanced methods and cruelty of organ‑trafficking networks. Investigations in Kenya, for example, uncovered a large criminal network operating through Mediheal Hospital and linked to an agency called MedLead. The group is accused of orchestrating kidney harvesting and transplant tourism, exploiting vulnerable donors to profit wealthy foreign patients.

This case is not an isolated event. It is a stark warning of how criminal networks exploit regulatory gaps and prey on socioeconomic vulnerability across continents. The MedLead scandal is a clear example of the harm caused when human desperation meets unethical demand and it highlights why a coordinated global legal framework is essential.

At the same time, different but equally sensitive public debates elsewhere, such as recent discussions in the United States over legislative proposals to provide financial support for organ donors, demonstrate how delicate the ethical balance around organ donation remains. These developments remind us that vigilance, ethical clarity and robust international safeguards are indispensable.

Together, these trends point to one conclusion: organ trafficking is evolving. The international community must therefore remain vigilant, coordinated and principled in its response.

As Chair of the Committee of the Parties to the Santiago de Compostela Covnention, I emphasise that the Convention’s relevance goes far beyond Europe. Organ trafficking is a global challenge and the Convention is open to accession by all States, reflecting the truly transnational nature of this crime. Our Committee continues to work tirelessly to monitor implementation, facilitate cooperation and support countries in strengthening their legal frameworks, transplantation oversight and victim protection measures.

On this important day, I call on governments worldwide to join the Santiago de Compostela Convention. By doing so, States reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, dismantling criminal networks and upholding the fundamental values of human dignity, justice and the rule of law. This Convention is not merely a European instrument, it is a global tool for a global concern.

Today, we honour the victims, those whose bodies and rights have been violated. We also recognise the dedication of medical professionals, law‑enforcement authorities, civil society organisations and policymakers who work tirelessly to prevent and combat these crimes.

Let us reaffirm our shared resolve:

• No person, anywhere, should be coerced or deceived into giving up a part of their body.

• No criminal network should profit from human suffering.

• No State should face this challenge alone.

Together, we can halt the spread of organ trafficking.
Together, we can defend human dignity.
Together, we can ensure that the human body remains beyond the reach of criminal exploitation.