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Afghanistan remains among the worst countries in the world in terms of combating human trafficking. According to the annual report of the US State Department, the country ranks third (lowest) in the rating of states that do not meet minimum standards for combating human trafficking and do not make adequate efforts to address this problem.
Sexual exploitation of children
According to the report, Taliban representatives are directly involved in the practice of “bacha bazi” — a form of sexual slavery in which boys are forced to dress in women’s clothing and provide sexual services to adult men. Despite the seriousness of these crimes, the Taliban authorities do not investigate or prosecute those responsible.
Child soldiers and document falsification
The Taliban systematically recruits minors into armed groups – some recruits are as young as 12. Children are often recruited through deception, with their ages falsified in official documents.
Collapse of the legal system
After coming to power, the Taliban abolished the criminal code and child protection legislation. Instead, the judicial system is based exclusively on religious jurisprudence. Authorities controlled by the Taliban have not recorded a single investigation or conviction in human trafficking cases.
Lack of protection for victims
Victims of human trafficking are left without any state support – there are no shelters or assistance programs in the country. The situation is particularly critical for minors: children are held in prisons alongside adult criminals, where they are subjected to torture and forced labor.
The scale of the problem
Human trafficking in Afghanistan has become widespread, affecting all segments of the population. Men, women, and children are victims of sexual slavery, forced labor, debt bondage, and other forms of exploitation both within the country and abroad.
Women, ethnic minorities, and internally displaced persons are most at risk due to discriminatory restrictions imposed by the Taliban regime.
