Summary: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “H.R.1154 – Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023” which prohibits the transplantation of organs obtained through coercion or without informed consent and sanctions individuals, entities and governments that facilitate forced organ harvesting.
The bill also creates a task force within the State Department to coordinate U.S. efforts to combat forced organ harvesting and requires the State Department to produce an annual report on global human rights abuses related to organ transplantation. The act is a milestone in the global fight against human rights abuses related to forced organ harvesting by the Chinese Communist Party.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “H.R.1154 – Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023” on March 29, 2023, in a bipartisan effort to end the practice of forced organ harvesting in China and around the world. This landmark legislation marks the first time that the U.S. government has taken concrete action to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for this egregious human rights violation.
What is Forced Organ Harvesting?
Forced organ harvesting refers to the practice of forcibly removing organs from prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghur Muslims, and Tibetan Buddhists, without their consent, and then selling those organs for profit. This practice is believed to be widespread in China, where the government has been accused of targeting these marginalized groups for their organs. The CCP has denied these allegations, but numerous reports and investigations have provided compelling evidence to the contrary.
What does the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 do?
The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 prohibits the transplantation of organs obtained through coercion or without informed consent and sanctions individuals, entities, and governments that facilitate forced organ harvesting. The bill also creates a task force within the State Department to coordinate U.S. efforts to combat forced organ harvesting and requires the State Department to produce an annual report on global human rights abuses related to organ transplantation.
Key provisions of the bill include:
The passage of the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 is a milestone in the global fight against human rights abuses related to forced organ harvesting by the CCP. It sends a strong message to the Chinese government that the U.S. will not tolerate this egregious violation of human rights and will take concrete steps to hold those responsible accountable.
What are the implications of this legislation?
The passage of the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 is a milestone in the global fight against human rights abuses related to forced organ harvesting by the CCP. It sends a strong message to the Chinese government that the U.S. will not tolerate this egregious violation of human rights and will take concrete steps to hold those responsible accountable.
The bill also has significant implications for U.S.-China relations, which have been strained in recent years due to a range of issues, including trade, human rights, and security.
The CCP has already expressed its opposition to the bill, calling it a violation of China’s sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs. It remains to be seen how the Chinese government will respond to the legislation, but it is likely to further escalate tensions between the two nations.
What are the next steps?
The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 must still be passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President before it becomes law. It is unclear how long this process will take, but the bipartisan support for the bill in the House suggests that it has a good chance of passing in the Senate as well.
Regardless of the outcome, the passage of this bill represents a significant step forward in the global fight against forced organ harvesting and sends a strong message that the U.S. is committed to upholding human rights and holding those responsible for human rights abuses accountable.
What You Can Help?
The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 sends a powerful message to the CCP that the United States will not tolerate this egregious violation of human rights.
The passage of this bill is a major victory for human rights advocates, who have been calling for action to address this issue for years. It is also a significant step forward in the U.S. government’s efforts to hold the CCP accountable for its egregious human rights abuses.
However, there is still much work to be done to end forced organ harvesting by the CCP and other regimes around the world. The passage of the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 is just one part of a larger effort to raise awareness, mobilize action, and promote ethical organ transplantation practices globally.
As individuals and communities, we have a critical role to play in this effort. We can support organizations that are working to combat forced organ harvesting, share information about this issue with our networks, and advocate for ethical organ transplantation practices in our own communities.
Together, we can help end this heinous human rights abuse and ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
Read more here
References:
