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The nationwide protests in Iran were fuelled by severe economic pressure, including a currency crash, alongside growing demands for political reform.
Rising living costs, including basic food such as bread and fruit, and reduced job opportunities were also raised by protestors.
A brutal crackdown has reportedly pushed protestors off the streets, but an internet blackout is restricting information flows from inside the country.
Severe economic strain and weak labour protections heighten the risk of forced labour and other abuses.
These conditions increase vulnerability, meaning people are more likely to face exploitation and modern slavery.
At least 4,500 people have been killed and more than 26,000 arrested, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency.
It is, however, difficult to determine the true number as the communications blackout continues.
An estimated 597,000 people are living in modern slavery in Iran, according to the latest Global Slavery Index. Just over 7 out of every 1,000 people in Iran are living in forced labour and forced marriage.
Despite this backdrop, Iran is one of the countries taking the least action to respond to modern slavery, scoring only 8 per cent for its efforts in Walk Free’s 2023 Global Slavery Index.
It is only surpassed for the lowest score globally by Eritrea and North Korea, where there is evidence of state-imposed forced labour.
Following decades of international sanctions and trade embargoes, alongside economic mismanagement and corruption, Iranians already faced barriers in accessing basic needs before the protests erupted.
Risks of abuse can increase where legal protections are weak and livelihood options are limited.
During times of unrest, these risks intensify as social systems and support networks break down. Exploitation can go undetected.
Economic hardship, social pressure, and restricted access to education and employment push people, especially women and children, into exploitative situations.
Gender inequality and vulnerability to exploitation is entrenched by personal status laws that deny women equal rights in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and children.
Iran is host to one of the largest populations of refugees globally, with 3.8 million people largely from Afghanistan and Iraq seeking asylum, as of September 2024.
Refugees are at heightened risk of modern slavery due to additional vulnerabilities, including isolation, lack of access to basic needs, and threats of violence.
Traffickers take advantage of crises to exploit the survival needs of vulnerable people, leading to increased risks of forced labour, forced marriage, and other forms of modern slavery.
Walk Free recommends urgent steps for Iran, including:
The protests reveal the critical need to address deep-rooted inequality and fragile protections, which can leave many people vulnerable to exploitation and modern slavery.
Research from the Global Slavery Index highlights why addressing these challenges is essential to safeguarding rights and reducing modern slavery risks.