Sweden
Trafficking in Human Beings (THB)

Fact sheet: Action plan to combat prostitution and trafficking in human beings

March 2018
The action plan to combat prostitution and trafficking in human beings can be seen as part of broader efforts to prevent and combat men’s violence against women.

Trafficking in human beings is one of the most serious forms of organised crime and involves the ruthless exploitation of other human beings. Trafficking in human beings violates the victim’s right to decide over their own life and body. This is why, in February 2018, the Government adopted a national action plan to combat prostitution and trafficking in human beings. The aim of the action plan is to combat and prevent prostitution and trafficking in human beings for all purposes and to contribute to better protection and support for people vulnerable to human trafficking.
The Government has previously adopted an action plan for protecting children from human trafficking, exploitation and sexual abuse.

Action plan focus areas

The measures presented in the action plan fall into eight different focus areas:

  1. Enhanced coordination between agencies and other stakeholders
  2. Strengthened prevention
  3. Improved detection of prostitution and human trafficking
  4. Legislative measures
  5. Stronger protection and support
  6. More effective law enforcement
  7. Greater knowledge and methodological development
  8. Increased international cooperation

> Factsheet

US Department of State

Trafficking in Persons Report 2018: Sweden

TRAFFICKING PROFILE
As reported over the past five years, Sweden is a destination and, to a lesser extent, source and transit country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking, and a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor, including forced begging and stealing. Sex trafficking victims largely originate from Eastern Europe, Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East, though Swedish women and girls are vulnerable to sex trafficking within the country. Reported cases of labor trafficking and forced begging are increasing. Victims of labor trafficking, who largely originate from Eastern Europe, West Africa, and East Asia, face exploitation in service, cleaning, and construction; cases among seasonal berry pickers have decreased significantly in recent years. Roma, primarily from Romania and Bulgaria, are vulnerable to forced begging and criminality and, to a lesser extent, sex trafficking. Most traffickers are the same nationality as their victims and are often part of criminal networks engaged in multiple criminal activities, although an increasing number of reported cases involve traffickers who are family members or have no ties to organized crime. The approximately 26,000 migrants, who applied for asylum in 2017, primarily from Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Morocco, and Cuba, as well as a many stateless individuals, are vulnerable to human trafficking. Unaccompanied children are especially vulnerable; a 2015 study found more than half of suspected child trafficking victims identified since 2012 arrived in Sweden as unaccompanied minors, primarily from Africa and Eastern Europe. More than 1,336 unaccompanied foreign children applied for asylum in Sweden in 2017. Street children in Sweden, especially boys from Morocco, are vulnerable to child sex trafficking and forced criminality. Approximately 4,000 and 5,000 Swedes commit child sex tourism offenses abroad annually, primarily in Asia.
> state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2018/index.htm