The Declaration of Istanbul was established in 2008 in Istanbul during an international summit convened in response to the growing problem of human trafficking and transplant tourism. The meeting brought together 151 participants, including representatives of scientific and medical institutions, government officials, sociologists, and ethicists. In 2010, the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group was set up to implement the goals set during that meeting and to respond to emerging challenges related to organ trafficking. The DICG operates based on supplementary documents, in particular the Guiding Principles of the World Health Organization on human cell, tissue, and organ transplantation.
The Declaration of Istanbul was updated in 2018. It was decided that everyone who needs it should have equal access to organ transplantation, regardless of their place of residence, without having to resort to unethical and exploitative practices. The Declaration provides ethical guidance and support for healthcare professionals, policymakers, professional associations, national health authorities, and intergovernmental organizations such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the Council of Europe.
It is worth noting that a strong advocate of the DICG was Prof. Wojciech Rowiński, longtime Head of the Chair and Department of General and Transplant Surgery at the former Medical Academy in Warsaw, now the Medical University of Warsaw.