Crime, Justice and Corruption
Situation Analysis
Like many other countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran is suffering from the activities of transnational and domestic Organized Crime. The Government acknowledges that it faces several challenges, ranging from organized crime - particularly related to drug trafficking - to money laundering and corruption cases. In addition, trafficking in cultural property, arts and antiquities has been increasingly growing both as a form of organized crime as well as an important source for laundering the proceeds of crime.
The United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocols provide a range of tools to update domestic legislation and capacity on preventing and combating organized crime and to facilitate international cooperation for this purpose. The instrument presents mechanisms and frameworks for countering serious crime, including in the form of Anti-Money Laundering and Mutual Legal Assistance amongst various jurisdictions. The Islamic Republic of Iran signed the Convention in the year 2000 but its ratification remains to be an on-going process. The legislative bill for ratification of UNTOC was submitted to Parliament in December 2013.
The Islamic Republic of Iran ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in April 2009. The Government has actively participated in the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of UNCAC, designed to assist States Parties in their implementation of the Convention. Iran participated in the first cycle of the UNCAC Review Mechanism in 2011 and was selected to review the Self-Assessment of Bangladesh. Iran also submitted its own Self-Assessments of the implementation of UNCAC covering Chapter 3: Criminalization and Law Enforcement, and Chapter 4: International Cooperation. The Iranian Self-Assessment Checklists were reviewed by senior experts from Belarus and Indonesia, who later conducted a Country Visit to Iran in May 2013 in cooperation with UNODC.
A coordinated and substantive approach at the national, regional and international levels is necessary to better tackle drug trafficking and criminal activities, such as money laundering, human trafficking, acts of corruption, as well as trafficking in cultural property, arts and antiquities. This requires national coordination, improved national legislation in accordance with the United Nations instruments and standards, developing effective institutional bodies, building academic knowledge and capacities among decision-makers and practitioners, regional and international cooperation, and sharing best practices and experiences.
To contribute to this coordinated approach and to strengthening the rule of law, UNODC Iran has been providing legal support and technical assistance to its national partners. For more information on UNODC Iran action in this field:
Country Programme for Islamic Republic of Iran 2011-2014 , Sub-Programme 3