On 4 September 2026, the Ministry of Justice of Armenia and the Council of Europe convened to address a critical question: how to strengthen legal safeguards in transplantation by reinforcing the fight against human organ trafficking.
For the specialists involved in the policy development on organ transplantation and fight against trafficking in human organs, the legal assessment of Armenia’s legislation against the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs was a necessity to prevent abuses and protect vulnerable individuals from illegal recruitment and exploitation, as well as to build trust in this life-saving field.
A legal assessment prepared with the support of the Council of Europe, offering a comprehensive review of Armenia’s criminal framework and its alignment with the Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs was presented during the discussion.
Representatives from the justice and health sectors, policymakers, legal and healthcare professionals, focused on how these legal frameworks translate into clinical practice, how the domestic legislation of Armenia complies with the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs. The assessment highlighted that while Armenia possesses solid legislative foundations, targeted reforms are essential. Specifically, those aiming at strengthening protection of human dignity, bodily integrity, free and informed consent and the principle of non-commercialisation of the human body, while enhancing prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of offences related to trafficking in human organs. Key recommendations include establishing specific criminal offenses for the illegal removal, handling, transport, and brokering of human organs, alongside boosting investigative capacities and creating mechanisms for periodic legislative review.
The discussion underscored the alignment between these proposed criminal law amendments and Armenia’s ongoing implementation of the Oviedo Convention, ratified in 2025. As the meeting concluded, the consensus among justice and health officials was clear: sustained cross-sector collaboration remains essential to ensuring that organ transplantation in Armenia operates under the highest standards of human dignity, transparency, and legal accountability.
The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Justice of RA and the Council of Europe as part of its Project “Protection of Human Rights in Biomedicine III”, implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026.
*Trafficking in human organs is a serious violation of human rights and human dignity. It can involve illegal removal, procurement, transfer, receipt or use of human organs, including situations where organs are obtained without valid consent or in exchange for financial gain or other undue advantage. Preventing and combating such practices requires effective legal safeguards, strong institutional cooperation and a human rights-based approach that protects individuals from exploitation while ensuring the integrity of transplantation systems.
