[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

IRAN (Tier 3) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Iran does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity, is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore Iran remained on Tier 3.  Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps that may prevent trafficking of vulnerable populations, including creating pathways for some undocumented Afghan children to enroll in school and providing temporary immigration relief and the ability to access basic services to some undocumented Afghan adults who registered for the government’s headcount initiative.  However, during the reporting period there was a government policy or pattern of employing or recruiting child soldiers and human trafficking.  Officials continued to perpetrate and condone trafficking crimes with impunity, both in Iran and overseas, and did not report law enforcement efforts to address the crime.  In addition, the government brought spurious trafficking charges against LGBTQI+ activists, undercutting the government’s efforts to hold sex and labor traffickers criminally accountable.  The government forced or coerced children to join Iranian security and anti-riot forces to suppress ongoing political protests in the country.  The government also recruited – through coercion – former Afghan Special Forces members to fight for the Iranian-backed militia in Yemen with promises to retain their legal residency status after they sought visa extensions to remain in Iran.  In previous reporting periods, the government forced or coerced children to fight for Iranian-led militias operating in Syria and provided financial support to militias fighting in armed conflicts in the region and recruiting and using child soldiers.  The government has never reported efforts to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate child soldiers, nor has it reported investigating, prosecuting, or convicting officials complicit in the recruitment or use of child soldiers.  The government failed to identify and protect trafficking victims among vulnerable populations and continued to deport or detain Afghan adults and children without screening this highly vulnerable population for trafficking indicators.

Prioritized Recommendations

Cease the forcible and otherwise illegal recruitment of children for paramilitary organizations in Iran and of adults and children for combat in Yemen and cease support for armed militias that recruit and use child soldiers in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

Ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Amend the 2004 law to bring the definition of trafficking in line with international law.

Cease targeting of non-traffickers through spurious politically motivated trafficking charges.

While respecting due process, investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers – particularly complicit government officials – and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, involving significant prison terms, as appropriate.

Institute nationwide procedures to proactively identify trafficking victims, particularly among vulnerable populations such as persons in commercial sex, children who experienced homelessness or used the streets as a source of livelihood, and undocumented migrants, including children.

Offer specialized protection services to victims of all forms of trafficking, including shelter and medical, psycho-social, and legal assistance.

Develop partnerships with and allow for the registration of civil society and international organizations to combat trafficking and to help provide essential protection services to victims.

Increase transparency of anti-trafficking policies and activities.

Become a party to the UN TIP Protocol.

Screen any North Korean workers for signs of trafficking and refer them to appropriate services, in a manner consistent with obligations under UN Security Council resolution 2397.