EU SWEDISH PRESIDENCY: Conference on prevention models to address the demand that fosters trafficking for sexual purposes

Full Text Sharing

Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime that violates the human rights of its many victims. Women and children are particularly exposed, and trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is a severe form of gender-based violence.

The latest reports from both the EU and the UN show worrying numbers concerning the prevalence of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It clearly indicates that we need to do more to prevent this crime and to protect the victims.

Trafficking in human beings is linked to and exacerbated by poverty, inequality, discrimination, armed conflict and migration. The exploitation is often committed within the framework of, or is closely linked to, organised crime.

When new crises appear worldwide, traffickers often abuse these situations to profit from the vulnerability of people in need. The Russian aggression against Ukraine has once again reminded us of this.

We can never accept that people fleeing war end up in exploitation and abuse. Trafficking in human beings is a demand driven crime and the current situation has reminded us of the joint obligation to address the demand that fosters trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

A priority for the Swedish Government

Independent of national legislation, all EU and UN Member states have an obligation to address the demand that fosters trafficking in human beings.

To help prevent trafficking for sexual exploitation, national efforts need to focus on discouraging the demand that fosters trafficking for sexual exploitation. This is also a tool in protecting the victims.

Targeting all forms of sexual violence against women and children is a priority for the Swedish Government. Since 1999, Swedish legislation bans the purchase of sexual services and this has been an important tool to target trafficking in human beings, as well as to improve the situation of victims.

The aim of this conference is to gather international actors and governmental and civil society experts from Europe and beyond and provide a space for strategic exchanges with a focus on:

  • Ways and means to tackle exploitation in prostitution and trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes by addressing the demand and assessing adequate and different legislation models, norm changing initiatives and other means to target the demand to best make use of all relevant tools at hand to counter further exploitation and abuse.
  • Ensuring prevention and protection of victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking for sexual purposes.
  • Acknowledging the need to enhance joint efforts and promote mobilisation to end this serious crime and exploitation.    
Position: Co -Founder of ENGAGE,a new social venture for the promotion of volunteerism and service and Ideator of Sharing4Good

Add new comment

Filtered HTML

  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.