International Organ Donors:
Understanding Them, Protecting Them

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Overview

Observed annually on July 30, the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons raises awareness about human trafficking and promotes efforts to protect victims and prevent exploitation. Human Trafficking for Organ Removal is recognized internationally as a form of human trafficking and remains a serious human rights concern.

By focusing on the protection of international donors, the webinar connects the transplantation community's efforts to broader global initiatives aimed at combating human trafficking and defending human dignity, ensuring that organ donation remains a life-saving act grounded in ethics, transparency, and respect for human rights.

Objectives

This webinar will explore the growing and often underexamined issue of international living organ donation, focusing on the unique vulnerabilities, protections, and policy considerations associated with donors who cross international borders to donate an organ. Bringing together experts from Australia, Spain, and Mexico, the session will examine available data on international donors, the specific needs and risks they may face, and the regulatory frameworks designed to protect them. Through perspectives from multiple regions, the webinar will highlight legislation, policies, and best practices aimed at preventing organ trafficking and transplant tourism while ensuring that legitimate cross-border transplantation occurs ethically and with appropriate safeguards for donors.