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Submission to the Inquiry Into Human Organ Trafficking and Organ Transplant Tourism by the Human Rights Sub-Committee of The

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Submission to the Inquiry Into Human Organ Trafficking and Organ Transplant Tourism by the Human Rights Sub-Committee of The Submission to the inquiry into human organ trafficking and organ transplant tourism by the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade I, Fengqiang Zhang appreciate the opportunity to make this submission to the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (the Committee). Terms of Reference The Committee will have regard to the offence of Organ Trafficking under division 271 of the Criminal Code and whether it would be practicable or desirable for: 1. This offence to have extraterritorial application; and 2. Australia to accede to the 2014 Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs. Response to Terms of Reference 1. I believe Australia should pass legislation to prevent citizens of this country travelling to countries for an organ transplant where there is any suspected irregularity in the source of the organs offered for transplant in their country of destination. 2. I support the proposal that Australia accede to the 2014 Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs., and further propose that appropriate domestic legislation be passed to ensure that the terms of the Convention are carried out. Reason for Supporting the Terms of Reference I am making this submission as I have a genuine interest in stopping organ trafficking and transplant tourism crimes. I am a young Chinese immigrant who came to Australia eight years ago. I came here to pursuit my Master’s degree and subsequently became a working professional. I am also a practitioner of Falun Gong which is an ancient Chinese cultivation practice that teaches “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”. Human rights investigation reports show that thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been killed for their organs, which are traded for numerous profits. One of the investigative reports written by Ethan Gutmann, David Matas and David Kilgour has exposed China’s lucrative organ transplant industry. (http://endorganpillaging.org/wp- content/uploads/2017/05/Bloody_Harvest-The_Slaughter-2016-Update-V3-and-Addendum- 20170430.pdf) I don’t have personal experience of the practice of organ harvesting in China. By no means are these dreadful crimes not happening in China nowadays. My mother is also a Falun Gong practitioner. In 2004, I witnessed that police illegally broke into my house, arrested my mother without charge or conviction and put her in a detention centre because she believe in the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”. Other fellow practitioners were arrested and imprisoned in my hometown and suffered cruel persecutions. No one is safe under the China’s Communist Party’s regime but Falun Gong practitioners are the main targets. Living in the fear of being persecuted for my faith for 11 years, I dreamt of freely practicing Falun Gong. In 2009, I was very fortunate to be able to come to Australia to obtain my Master’s degree. For the first time since the persecution, I felt so relieved and safe that I can practice Falun Gong openly. Therefore, I strongly believe that Australia as a developed country which has strict laws for regulating ethical practice in organ donation and transplants should join as a signatory of the 2014 European Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs, within and without the country. Name and Contact Details Fengqiang Zhang .
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