The Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs, also known as the Santiago de Compostela Convention, was presented to a distinguished group of Egyptian prosecutors during their visit to the Council of Europe, the framework of the Council of Europe’s South Programme V.

This initiative forms a key part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the regional capacities of legal professionals in tackling crimes related to organ trafficking.

The presentation provided a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the growing threat posed by organ trafficking and related offences — issues with serious implications for public health, safety, and justice.

As the first and only legally binding international instrument to criminalise such practices, the Santiago de Compostela Convention was introduced as a robust legal framework designed to prevent and prosecute these crimes.

This session helped prosecutors gain a deeper understanding of these complex offences and highlighted the importance of international cooperation, in line with the objectives of the South Programme V to enhance justice and public health protection in the Southern Mediterranean region.