Report by Sweden on THB March 2010

PM |2010-03-29 |Dnr 2010:313 | ||UNDERLAG OM TRAFFICKING || | |Inför möte i en arbetsgrupp om trafficking önskas följande frågor besvarade.1) Have there in your country been made any analyses giving a picture ofthe extent of the problem trafficking in human beings? Does there exist aconcrete picture of the problem?In July 2008, the Swedish Government presented a written communication containing an Action Plan against Prostitution and Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes. The plan covers five priority areas, one of these is higher level of knowledge and awareness of problems around trafficking. Other areas of priority are: greater protection and support for people at risk, more emphasis on preventive work, higher standards and greater efficiency in the justice system and increased national and international cooperation.A fact sheet regarding the Action Plan is available in English at:http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/11/06/29/fcd261a4.pdfInformation material about trafficking:http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/4096/a/121029Also, please see a press release from the Swedish National Council for Crime prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet): Sex-linked human trafficking in Sweden mapped (2009-01-20).http://www.bra.se/extra/news/?module_instance=22&id=62) Does your country have a National Co-ordinating Mechanism, a NationalAction Plan, and a National Rapporteur on trafficking in human beings?Since 1998 the National Police Board has a national rapporteur that monitors trafficking for sexual purposes in Sweden. The number of cases concerning trafficking for sexual purposes that are detected and reported depends on the polices priorities and resources set aside for surveillance and other police work. One of the Governments priorities is to provide an additional SEK 52 million in funding so that the work can be more effective. The money is to be used for operational activities and for skills and methods enhancement among police and prosecutors.About the Action Plan please see above.3) Does your country have any special laws concerning trafficking inhuman beings?The Swedish law prohibiting trafficking in human beings (in the Penalty law) entered into force on 1 July 2002 and is harmonized with the Palermo Protocol. The law against trafficking in human beings was amended on 1 July 2004 to extend the criminalization of trafficking to all forms of humanTrafficking, even within national borders. The sentence for traffickingin human beings is imprisonment for a term of two to ten years.The Swedish law against trafficking in human beings is applicable only if there is an unlawful coercion or deception or other improper means involved. If the injured party is under 18 years of age, the improper means condition does not apply. The majority of Swedish cases in which offenders were convicted of trafficking in human beings have involved minors. The injured parties were adults in only a couple of cases.[1] Further amendments to the law against trafficking in human beings were recently proposed in a Governmental Bill which means that the the protection against trafficking is strengthened.-----------------------[1] Swedish National Council for Crime prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet) 2008:21 p.22