Critique of Legislative Measures to Combat Human Trafficking in Iran in Light of International Human Rights Law

Human trafficking is a serious organized crime. In recent years, the number of victims for various reasons has been increased and the crime has become one of the most important threats against the international community, which requires international attentions to the methods to combat this important crime, such as legislative actions in forms of certain rules and regulations. This article, first, reviews the importance of this crime in human communities and thenexamines the laws and regulations in Iranian legal system enacted to combat human trafficking in light of international human rights law. The article, in particular, studies the laws regarding the trafficking of women and children. The article also examines the measures foreseen in the law and regulations in order to prevent this crime, to punish the perpetrators, and to provide protection for the victims specifically for women and children. Finally, it concludes that the measures, though necessary, do not provide enough protection and need to be amended so that the perpetrators are being prosecuted promptly and the victims are being provided with more protection and rehabilitation.