Stop organ harvesting from Falun Gong

AI summary

Petitioners ask Parliament to condemn forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong, criminalize it in Canadian law, and demand an end to their persecution. The government responds that it criminalized receiving organs abroad without donor consent.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas, Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline which consists of meditation exercise and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance; Whereas, in July 1999, the Chinese Communist Party launched an intensive, nationwide persecution campaign to eradicate Falun Gong. Hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in forced labour camps, brainwashing centres and prisons, where torture and abuse are routine and thousands died as a result; Whereas, Canadian lawyer David Matas and former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour conducted an investigation in 2006 and concluded that the Chinese regime and its agencies throughout China have put to death a large number, in tens of thousands, of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. Their vital organs were seized involuntarily for sale at high price; Whereas, The Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH) has got about 1.5 million petition signatures from over 50 countries and presented to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights calling for immediate action to end the unethical practice of forced organ harvesting in China and calls for an end of the persecution of Falun Gong; Whereas, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the organ harvesting abuses in China and calls on the Government of China to end immediately the practice of harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience. Therefore we, the undersigned request the Canadian parliament and government to: A) Pass a resolution to establish measures to stop the Chinese Communist regime's crime of systematically murdering Falun Gong practitioners for their organs; B) Amend Canadian legislations to combat forced organ harvesting; C) Publicly call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Parliamentary Secretary Rob Oliphant The promotion and protection of human rights is a core element of Canadian foreign policy. Canada consistently calls on the People's Republic of China to respect, protect, and promote freedom of expression, assembly, association, and religion or belief – obligations that all States must fulfill. Canada has publicly voiced concern about the intimidation and repression of, inter alia, religious groups in China, including Falun Gong practitioners, and raises its concerns privately with relevant Chinese authorities whenever possible. Canada continues to be gravely concerned over well-documented human rights violations committed in China against Falun Gong practitioners. These violations lie within the greater framework of China’s repression of religious and ethnic minorities. Canada remains firmly committed to combating all forms of human trafficking, including those related to organ removal. On December 14, 2022, legislation amending the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act concerning trafficking in human organs received Royal Assent. This law established it as a criminal offence for Canadian citizens or permanent residents who travelled abroad to receive an organ obtained without the donor’s informed consent. Canada joins jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Belgium, Norway, Spain, South Korea, and Taiwan that have enacted legislation to address forced organ harvesting, organ transplant tourism, and organ trafficking. Canada continues to express concern about the intimidation and repression of ethnic and religious minority groups, including Falun Gong practitioners, and raises these issues at appropriate opportunities. Canada’s goal is to ensure its engagement on human rights issues is effective and strategic. Canada uses the tools available to us, including public statements and diplomatic representations, both bilaterally and in multilateral forums, as well as in coordination with countries that share similar concerns.