Chinese minorities targeted in organ harvesting: UN rights experts

UN rights experts said Monday they had received "credible information" that detainees from ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities in China may be being forcibly subjected to forced organ harvesting.

The 12 independent experts, who are mandated by the United Nations but do not speak on its behalf, said in a statement that they were "extremely alarmed" by the organ harvesting allegations.

They said they had heard that detained members of minority communities may be forcibly subjected to blood tests and organ examinations like ultrasound and x-rays, without informed consent - something other detainees are not required to do. 

The exam results are then registered in a database of living organ sources for transplants.

"Forced organ harvesting in China appears to be targeting specific ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities held in detention, often without being explained the reasons for arrest or given arrest warrants, at different locations," the experts said.

"We are deeply concerned by reports of discriminatory treatment of the prisoners or detainees based on their ethnicity and religion or belief."

China has repeatedly faced accusations of forced organ harvesting from prisoners, and in particular members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement - accusations Beijing has always forcefully denied.

The experts, including the UN special rapporteurs on human trafficking, on torture and on the right to the freedom of religion or belief, and the UN working group on arbitrary detention, said that hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas were allegedly the most common organs removed from prisoners. 

"This form of trafficking with a medical nature allegedly involves health sector professionals, including surgeons, anaesthetists and other medical specialists," they said.

They said UN rights experts had previously raised concerns about alleged forced organ harvesting from prisoners with the Chinese government back in 2006 and 2007.

In its responses at the time, they said, Beijing had not provided sufficient data on things like sources of organs for transplants.

"In this context, the lack of available data and information-sharing systems are obstacles to the successful identification and protection of victims of trafficking and effective investigation and prosecution of traffickers, the statement said.