The UN conference entitled, “Promoting the role of women in countering human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in Asia and the Middle East” was held by office of the Global Action Against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) was held in Vienna, Austria in virtual form.

 In this virtual meeting the speakers dealt with the importance of women’s participation in counter human trafficking and smuggling migrants and the actions taken by their country for dealing with this issue.

 Elham Aziznasiri expert in the international affairs of the vice-presidency for women and family affairs said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran like its neighboring countries and other countries in the middle East and Asia is no exception when it comes to human trafficking.”

 Aziznasiri said: “The political crisis and internal and international conflicts of the neighboring countries have led flocking of  the refugees from those countries into  safer ones and Iran as a transit country for the illegal migrants and transit of human trafficking has sustained incredible material and moral losses.”

She went on referring to a small example of Iran’s actions in preventing human trafficking and supporting the potential victims.

Dr. Qadeh Vaali , the executive director of the UN Office for Drugs and Crime  was one of the speakers of the meeting who expressed her concerns over lack of women’s presence in the judicial actions of the criminal justice.

 She explained that the women victims may not receive enough support due to this very reason. Vaali added: “Raising women’s awareness and the use of criminal justice in accordance with the gender is part of the priorities of the UNODC so that women’s access to justice, supporting the victims and justice for all would be maintained.”

Other examples of the impact of human trafficking on women, the role of women judges in reforming the system and the importance of men’s support were all some of the areas that were presented by the speakers.