AR 132 – Denounces organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and political prisoners in the People’s Republic of China
Status and basics
- Bill number: AR 132
- Title: Denounces organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and political prisoners in the PRC
- Type: Assembly resolution (non-binding)
- Introduced: May 2, 2024
- Status: Introduced in the Assembly; referred to the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
- Related bill: SR 69 (companion)
Purpose and intent
- To formally denounce the practice of organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience in the PRC, specifically Falun Gong practitioners and political prisoners.
- To express New Jersey’s concern about ethical violations in organ transplantation practices abroad and to advocate for transparency, accountability, and respect for medical ethics.
- To communicate New Jersey’s stance to U.S. and international authorities by transmitting copies of the resolution to the U.S. Secretary of State and PRC diplomatic representatives in the United States and at the United Nations.
Key provisions
- Be It Resolved: The General Assembly denounces the practice of organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong practitioners and political prisoners, in the PRC.
- Be It Further Resolved: Copies of the resolution shall be transmitted to:
- United States Secretary of State
- Ambassador of the PRC to the United States
- Permanent Representative of the PRC to the United Nations
- The resolution includes a detailed statement (explanatory/preamble) describing alleged historical and ongoing practices related to organ harvesting in China, with emphasis on Falun Gong, ethnic minorities, and political dissidents, and cites historical policies and reports as context for the concern.
Background and context (recitals summarized)
- Organ transplantation is portrayed as ethically acceptable when conducted under accepted medical standards; the resolution asserts concerns about China’s transparency and consent practices.
- The PRC is described as performing a large number of transplants (up to about 100,000 annually) but not aligning with World Health Organization transparency norms.
- Historical background cited includes 1984 policy approving organ harvesting from executed prisoners and statements suggesting a large share of donations coming from executed prisoners (as claimed by officials in the mid-2000s).
- Falun Gong: Founded in 1992, rapidly grew in popularity, and faced a state crackdown starting in 1999; practitioners are described as having been targeted for coercion, detention, and alleged organ harvesting.
- Other groups and regions (e.g., Uyghurs in Xinjiang) are noted as additional targets according to the cited narrative.
- The statement frames these practices as violations of medical ethics and universal human rights.
Who/what is affected
- Non-binding political stance by New Jersey’s General Assembly.
- The PRC and its diplomatic representatives (through the resolution’s transmittal to officials).
- Falun Gong practitioners, other prisoners of conscience, and ethnic minorities as described in the recitals.
- The public discourse on international organ procurement ethics and U.S.–China diplomacy.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Introduced in the Assembly on May 2, 2024.
- Referred to the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.
- As a resolution, it does not create law or allocate funds; it serves as a formal expression of policy and a diplomatic signal.
- Companion measure SR 69 exists.
