December 10 marks the day in 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. It is an annual reminder of the inherent dignity of all human beings that ought to be applied equally, regardless the region, country or subject at hand. Over five years ago, DAFOH launched a petition to the United Nations calling for independent investigations into China’s forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience, primarily Falun Gong practitioners. The petition garnered over three million signatures from more than 50 countries and regions.
China’s 20 year history of forced organ harvesting has been described as a Cold Genocide. The broader scope of this genocide continues to receive more and more international attention. Recently, the U.S. Congress hosted a hearing of persecution victims and their relatives. Today in London, a three-day China Tribunal into forced organ harvesting that heard evidence from victims and witnesses delivered a Draft Interim Judgement concluding beyond doubt that forced organ harvesting has been going on in China for some time.
December 10th is a day to remember that human rights belong to all human beings around the world. It is unacceptable for the international community not only to allow but also to ignore the actions of any country that reject the basic rights of its own citizens.
