A/HRC/4/31
page 8
of that is when the information gathered is partial or even inaccurate, intervention will
unfortunately not be effective. For example, in Guatemala in 1994, several American nationals
were attacked owing to unfounded rumours concerning trafficking of children for organ
transplantation. Other rumours have since been denounced by the media in countries such as
Azerbaijan, Mozambique, Brazil and India but not all the information obtained could be
assessed.
21.
The issue has previously been analysed by other Special Rapporteurs, in 1991 and 1999
respectively (E/CN.4/1991/51 and E/CN.4/1999/71), but blind spots persist. This is the reason
why the Special Rapporteur thought it primordial to address this issue once again in his annual
report. An extensive questionnaire was thus developed on the sale of children’s organs and sent
to all Member States and to intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations working
on issues related to trafficking on 24 July 2006. Member States were requested to respond
by 31 October 2006.
22.
The questionnaire covered a number of queries on the subject. First of all, the Special
Rapporteur wished to know about the framework that the Member States had elaborated. More
specifically, the States and NGOs were probed on the multilateral, regional and bilateral
arrangements developed in order to prevent and eliminate the sale of children’s organs.
Furthermore, another number of questions were set up in order to acquire more knowledge of the
national legislation applicable on that matter, the different public institutions in charge of
preventing, countering and eliminating the sale of child organs and their role and activities.
23.
Secondly, the Special Rapporteur enquired about the factual context occurring in the
different States, particularly if there had been official reports relating to the sale of organs in
general and also involving children. If so, what had been the measures undertaken? Finally, two
matters were tackled: if there had been cases of abduction or disappearance of children in which
they were later found (alive or dead) with missing organs; and, if reports had been published
relating to the existence of religious or magic rituals involving the removal of organs.
24.
As of 12 December 2006, the following Governments had responded to the
questionnaire: Austria, Belarus, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
Germany, Honduras, Japan, Lithuania, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Nicaragua,
Philippines, Qatar, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic of).
25.
The responses from Belarus and Ukraine were received on time and sent for translation.
Unfortunately, these responses could not be debated in the report due to the non-receipt of the
translations. As for the late responses received from Qatar and Moldova, they could also
unfortunately not be considered in this report for the same reason.
26.
The questionnaire was also sent to NGOs and intergovernmental organizations and
replies were received from the Child Rights Information Network; World Vision International in
Guatemala and Kenya; Save the Children in Guatemala, Norway, and Uganda; and Plan
International in Togo, Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Ghana and West Africa. A response was also
received from the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the issue of
rapid response programmes, which will be discussed later in the report.
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