Call on the Government to Prohibit the Commercial Trade of Human Remains

To most people, the thought of buying a bag full of human bones, a shrunken skull or a piece of “person leather” would be unthinkable. But the UK continues to see a stomach churning trade in human body parts conducted via social media, e-commerce sites, in-person auctions, curiosity shops and oddities markets.

Why This Matters

• We need to restore respect to the dead. The remains of real people, often taken without consent, are being bought and sold online and in private markets. Many of these remains come from vulnerable communities and historical contexts marked by colonial violence.
• We need proper regulation. Current UK law does not prevent private individuals from buying or selling human body parts. There is no requirement to verify the provenance of human remains or whether they were consensually and lawfully acquired.
• Museums, universities, and medical institutions already operate under ethical frameworks. Extending similar protections to the wider market would close loopholes that allow exploitation to continue.

Human remains are not collectibles, curiosities, or commodities. Yet in 2026, the law effectively allows them to be treated in this way. Individuals can sell human body parts without any checks on how they were acquired, who they belonged to, whether consent was given or what the buyer plans to do with them.

Ending the commercial trade is a step toward restoring dignity to the dead and preventing further exploitation.

Add your name and help put an end to this macabre trade.