On July 1–2, 2025, a seminar was held in Dushanbe, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the PROTECT project: Improving Migration Management and Protecting Migrants in Selected Silk Road Countries, with support from the European Union and the GLO.ACT initiative.
The seminar focused on one of the most hidden forms of exploitation — trafficking in human beings for organ removal.
The program covered international and national legal frameworks, challenges in identification and investigation, and case studies (“Medicus” and “Rex v. Ekveremadu”). Participants discussed hospital conditions, typology of THBOR, donor protection, UNODC tools and practical exercises, as well as collaboration between lawyers, doctors, CSOs, and law enforcement.
The seminar brought together justice, medical, and civil society representatives, including the “Zerkalo” team, to develop mechanisms for raising awareness, improving cross-sector coordination, supporting victims, and early detection and response.
Two intensive days with UNODC expert modules and live discussions confirmed that protecting human life and dignity requires joint efforts.
