UN Warns of Rising Human Trafficking Risk Amid Deepening Crises in Afghanistan
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned that, amid worsening humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan, the risk of human trafficking in the country has significantly increased.
On Sunday, August 2, UNODC stated on its X (formerly Twitter) page that social and economic pressures have heightened the vulnerability of citizens to human trafficking, exploitation, and forced labor.
According to UNODC, factors such as the return of more than six million Afghans, the elimination of opium poppy cultivation without alternative livelihoods, and severe restrictions on women’s rights have contributed to creating conditions conducive to the expansion of human trafficking. The removal of poppy cultivation without creating alternative job opportunities has plunged many families into an income crisis.
Previously, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had also warned about the increasing risk of human trafficking in Afghanistan. The IOM stated that millions of Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan are exposed to exploitation and abuse due to poverty, scarce job opportunities, and lack of essential services.
International agencies are sounding the alarm over the human consequences of this situation while Afghanistan continues to grapple with widespread economic challenges and social restrictions. According to these agencies, such conditions have paved the way for increased social harms, including human trafficking.
