The UN Protocol prohibits trafficking for the purpose of organ removal. Organ removal not only means the removal of kidneys for sale on the black market, it also includes the removal of organs and body parts for use in traditional medicine. In South Africa this practice is called "muti", in West Africa it is called "huju" or "juju". No matter what it is called, in all cases it is the same: the abduction of men, women and children for the ritual removal of organs and body parts while the victim is still alive. Traditional healers who use human muti believe that the organs and body parts must be removed while the victim is still alive because the screams of the victim infuses the body parts with the victim's life force, thus increasing the potency of the muti.
People pay traditional healers for muti to increase their luck, prosperity, business opportunities or their chances of wining an election or some one's heart. The traditional healer will choose a victim and remove the body parts or will pay a muti syndicate to abduct a victim and harvest the body parts. Genitals are used to increase virility, body fat to increase luck, lips or the tongue to seduce a lover, hands are buried near businesses to bring in customers, eyes to see into the future, brains to improve performance in college. Ears, eyelids and legs are also used for muti. The organs and body parts are eaten, drunk, smeared over the person using the muti or buried near the person's home or business in order to secure the desired results.
People are afraid to come forward with information against traditional healers who use human muti and the police are reluctant to investigate these crimes out of fear of having a curse placed upon them by the traditional healer.
Human trafficking for the purpose of ritual organ removal occurs in many African countries and is on the rise. Countries must enact and implement anti-trafficking laws to stop this terrible practice.
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