European Donation Day 2024

Host country – Lithuania

In 2024, the European Donation Day will be celebrated on 5 October and hosted by Lithuania, which also holds the Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.

This important day will be punctuated by several related events in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius under the theme “Lithuania – The Capital of Organ, Tissue and Cell Donation”. The European Committee on Organ Transplantation (CD-P-TO), the intergovernmental committee which oversees and co-ordinates the Council of Europe’s work in the field, will hold its plenary meeting on 3 and 4 October. The EDD opening ceremony will take place on the evening of 4 October, with the participation of representatives from government ministries, local and regional authorities, and patient and healthcare professional associations. Several prominent buildings will be illuminated in green, the EDD colour in 2024, to mark the occasion. An international conference entitled “Organ Donation and Transplantation: Let’s Build Bridges for Life” will be held on 5 October, enabling those involved in donation and transplantation processes to discuss best practice and share their experiences. Find out more in the EDD programme published by the Lithuanian organisers.

The Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe headquarters, will also be illuminated in green to promote voluntary, non-remunerated donations, honour the individuals and families behind them, and send a message of thanks and support to the healthcare professionals who save and improve lives by making donation and transplantation a reality.

The European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) will join the #EuropeanDonationDay and run an online campaign in support of organ, tissue and cell donation. On 10-12 October 2024, ESOT will also hold an International DCD Congress & Consensus in Bucharest.

EDQM social media campaign 2024

We invite you to join the EDQM’s #OneDecision social media campaign and reflect on the power that one decision can have. One decision to become a donor can save many lives. By becoming a donor, you have the power to save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve over 100 more through tissue and cell donation. Make that decision today and become a donor! Many lives are waiting for the chance that only you can give.

For more information, contact the organ donation and transplantation institution in your country.