A/HRC/4/31 page 14 Finland to another country possibly for the purpose of organ transplantation. Unfortunately, the information could not be confirmed and no evidence could be found by the intelligence reports. 49. Turkey stated that there had been allegations reported in the press of cases relating to the sale/trafficking of organs intervening some private medical clinics in Turkey where the foreign donors and receivers met and where the operation was conducted. However, it added that because the new Penal Code has been newly adopted and due to the statistics collection technique of the relevant judicial bodies in Turkey, it is impossible for the time being to provide any information on the court verdicts on this issue. 50. The same questionnaire was sent to non-governmental organizations and they have also highlighted allegations of cases of sale and/or trafficking of organs. 51. An NGO reported unconfirmed allegations obtained from local sources that organs from kidnapped children had been used for sacrificial purposes, precisely for witchcraft practices in Kenya and Zambia. In fact, according to the NGO, these practices involved the sacrificing of humans, especially children. The belief is that the ancestors to whom sacrifices are to be made in order to grant clients’ requests require an innocent being that has not shed any blood in whatever form. According to the source, the child (usually aged between 4 and 10) is abducted, and then murdered for the removal of his/her organs. Another NGO also reported on allegations of organ trafficking for magic rituals that were taking place in countries like Ghana and Nigeria. The aim in removing human organs for that purpose is to fulfil one’s political and financial ambitions. These statements, having not been confirmed by the Governments concerned or by other sources, remain unsubstantiated evidence. 52. Reports have recently been circulated in the press10 indicating that Chinese officials had for the first time recognized the existence of an organ black market in China, originating from executed prisoners. According to these reports, no public officials were involved in the trafficking, only surgeons. Once again, having not been confirmed by the Governments concerned or by other sources, this statement remains unsubstantiated. 2. National standards/strategies: Government responses 53. The questionnaire also asked Governments and other recipients to identify the multilateral agreements concerning the prevention and elimination of the sale of children and bilateral or regional arrangements that had been elaborated to counter trafficking of organs. It was encouraging to note that respondents shared a common understanding of the issue of sale and/or trafficking of organs involving children. They have for the most part ratified a number of the multilateral conventions relating to the subject. 54. Only a few bilateral or regional arrangements have been adopted. In the framework of the Council of Europe, several conventions have been signed and ratified by a number of its member States. Slovenia, for example, stated that its Government had ratified the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in April 2006. Germany also mentioned the Eurotransplant International Foundation previously described. And Chile indicated that it had signed a bilateral agreement with Argentina for the cooperation of their respective police forces.