September 16, 2019
Username:
 In 2024-Human Trafficking

Topic:
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Abby Klein

Topic: Human Trafficking
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Abby Klein

The UN has defined human trafficking as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, or harboring of individuals through force, coercion, abduction, fraud, or deception for exploitation.” While this can be tragic and inhuman, the definition opens a broad topic with many smaller components. There are several types of human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, forced labor, debt bondage, and organ removal. Organ trafficking is a significant issue today, with trafficked organs accounting for up to 10% of all organ transplants worldwide, generating an estimated $840 million to $1.7 billion annually. Organ trafficking accounts for thousands of deaths each year, making it an imminent issue. Other forms of human trafficking are of equal importance and produce billions of dollars of illicit funds.

The Islamic Republic of Iran stresses the importance of the prevention of human trafficking. Still, it is apprehensive about how this topic will be debated by the ​​Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee. The committee must act in accordance with Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ensuring states have the freedom to respect religious practices without interference from UN protocols. Iran’s legal system is based on Sharia law, which provides the moral code of the state. These laws prohibit human trafficking, and the Iranian constitution criminalizes acts of human trafficking for sexual and labor exploitation. Iran prepares to uphold these values and broaden them in this committee. The Islamic Republic of Iran makes all necessary efforts to fight against trafficking. As one of the first countries to sign the UNTOC, Iran has also taken several steps with the guidelines of this convention to combat trafficking.

The Islamic Republic of Iran hopes to concentrate this committee on the subtopics of human trafficking, with the goal of organ removal and human trafficking across state lines. Iran hopes to prevent the trafficking with the intent of organ removal by creating public awareness campaigns, strengthening previous regulations, protecting civilians, and supporting victims. Stopping trafficking across state lines can be achieved with stricter border protocol and more universal collaboration. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes this can be attained without breaching state sovereignty and looks forward to a productive committee.