Bill S-223 Significant Measure to Protect Uighurs From Organ Harvesting
December 14th, 2022
The historic passing of Bill S-223 includes extensive new reforms to the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that combat illegal organ harvesting and human trafficking for the purpose of removing organs.
Justice For All Canada highlights Sen. Salma Ataullahjan for sponsoring this critical bill.
Sen. Ataullahjan has long pursued human rights advocacy for vulnerable groups in Canada and globally. Her efforts behind Bill S-223 establish renewed yet stronger commitments requiring the Canadian government to end organ trafficking.
The new measures and amendments proposed by Bill S-223 seek to overall address;
Organ trafficking occurs in different contexts. Most of it is unregulated and exploitative of the poor and vulnerable. Some individuals living in poverty sell their own organs, while others have their organs forcefully taken without consent. In all instances of illegal and forced organ harvesting, there are considerable medical risks and life-long implications for the donor.
Justice For All Canada continues to raise the plight of Uighur Muslims experiencing genocidal crimes against humanity under China’s brutal regime targeting religious minorities. Illegal organ transplantation involving Uighurs in China is a well-documented crime against humanity. A United Nations report from 2021 mentioned concerns about Chinese authorities removing organs from religious minority prisoners belonging to Uighurs, Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, and Christians.
Individuals involved in trafficking, including those who facilitated or monetarily benefitted from this practice, should not be admissible to Canada as Bill-223 explains. However, in implementing these measures, the government must protect and not punish organ donors who may have made a choice under poverty, exploitation, coercion or desperation.
Since Bill S-223 brings attention to a small part of a larger global issue, Justice For All Canada urges the Canadian government to continue cracking down on organ-related crimes impacting Uighurs, including;
The historic passing of Bill S-223 includes extensive new reforms to the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that combat illegal organ harvesting and human trafficking for the purpose of removing organs.
Justice For All Canada highlights Sen. Salma Ataullahjan for sponsoring this critical bill.
Sen. Ataullahjan has long pursued human rights advocacy for vulnerable groups in Canada and globally. Her efforts behind Bill S-223 establish renewed yet stronger commitments requiring the Canadian government to end organ trafficking.
The new measures and amendments proposed by Bill S-223 seek to overall address;
- New Section 240.1 of the Criminal Code: Trafficking to obtain or forcefully remove organs without consent and participation in the forced removal of organs without consent;
- Implementation of Extraterritorial Jurisdiction: Ensuring that charges related to the offence of trafficking are applied to Canadians committing this crime in Canada as well as internationally;
- Amendment to the Immigration/Refugee Protection Act: Banning foreign nationals and permanent residents responsible for engaging in conduct contrary to section 240.1 of the Criminal Code (see #1 above).
Organ trafficking occurs in different contexts. Most of it is unregulated and exploitative of the poor and vulnerable. Some individuals living in poverty sell their own organs, while others have their organs forcefully taken without consent. In all instances of illegal and forced organ harvesting, there are considerable medical risks and life-long implications for the donor.
Justice For All Canada continues to raise the plight of Uighur Muslims experiencing genocidal crimes against humanity under China’s brutal regime targeting religious minorities. Illegal organ transplantation involving Uighurs in China is a well-documented crime against humanity. A United Nations report from 2021 mentioned concerns about Chinese authorities removing organs from religious minority prisoners belonging to Uighurs, Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, and Christians.
Individuals involved in trafficking, including those who facilitated or monetarily benefitted from this practice, should not be admissible to Canada as Bill-223 explains. However, in implementing these measures, the government must protect and not punish organ donors who may have made a choice under poverty, exploitation, coercion or desperation.
Since Bill S-223 brings attention to a small part of a larger global issue, Justice For All Canada urges the Canadian government to continue cracking down on organ-related crimes impacting Uighurs, including;
- Establishing property-blocking and visa-blocking sanctions against Chinese authorities responsible for the organ trafficking of Uighurs;
- Banning exports of particular surgery devices to Chinese entities identified as being responsible for forced organ harvesting;
- Requiring Canada’s foreign affairs ministry to report on the above actions.