By Michael Oche
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has issued a strong call to the African Union (AU) and national governments to take immediate and decisive action against the rising scourge of organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly targeting African migrants.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ITUC-Africa General Secretary Akhator Joel Odigie condemned the “abhorrent and inhumane” trade, describing it as a gross violation of human rights that preys on the most vulnerable, refugees, migrants, displaced persons, the poor, and children.
The organization expressed grave alarm over mounting evidence of a sophisticated, illicit network involving rogue medical professionals, criminal syndicates, brokers, and terror groups operating across the region’s conflict zones and porous borders.
Odigie said, “This vile trade thrives on desperation, conflict, and institutional breakdown.
“The commodification of the human body—where victims are abducted, misled, or coerced into giving up their organs is a despicable crime and an affront to the dignity of all human life.”
ITUC-Africa said of particular concern is the targeting of African migrants and youth, many of whom are deceived with false promises or trafficked across borders, only to fall victim to what the group described as “modern-day barbarism.”
“It must not be met with silence,” Odigie said, urging the African Union and all African governments to take decisive action.
Among the actions recommended includes the strengthening of national and regional legal frameworks to criminalize organ trafficking and ensure stringent penalties for perpetrators.
ITUC-AFRICA also called for the development of mechanisms for protection, prevention, and victim support, particularly for refugees, migrants, and displaced persons.
Other measures include enhancing border control and surveillance measures, while investing in the capacity of law enforcement and the judiciary to detect, investigate, and prosecute trafficking networks.
The regional workers body called for increased public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the dangers and illegality of organ trafficking, particularly in vulnerable communities.
It further urged cooperation with international partners to dismantle cross-border trafficking rings and uphold the integrity of medical ethics and humanitarian standards.
“The harvesting of human organs is a grotesque distortion of medical science and a symptom of deep social and political failures,” the statement noted.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside civil society, governments, and workers’ organizations to protect the dignity and rights of all people, and called for justice for victims of this heinous crime.
