Topic: 2024-Human Trafficking
Country: Sweden
Delegate Name: Jenna Zaidan
Jenna Zaidan
Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee
Human Trafficking
Sweden
Mattawan High School
It is estimated by the International Labor Organization that 49.6 million people live in modern slavery around the world. That is about 1 in every 150 people being subjected to a form of trafficking, be it for sex, labor, forced marriage, etc. This epidemic stretches beyond borders, across continents, and is bigger than global politics.
The UN has addressed this issue through acts such as the 2000 Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons. This Protocol is the first international agreement to legally define human trafficking, aiding in the identification of victims; it also lays out steps to be taken for the reintegration and protection of victims. The UN has also conducted seven Global Reports on Trafficking in Persons since 2010, when the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons was enacted. These reports serve to analyze trafficking cases in every country to provide an overview of the global, national, and regional responses being taken. It provides country profiles and establishes patterns of trafficking across the globe.
Sweden has been in support of UN actions to stop trafficking, such as the Protocol. While Sweden is ranked as a Tier 1 country, it does still have trafficking cases. In 2022, there were 169 reported trafficking cases, with only 9 being prosecuted. In 2023, there were 344 reported cases, 37 of which were prosecuted. This is a twofold increase in cases, but a fourfold increase in prosecution. The increased prosecution is due to the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, which received 13 million Swedish krona in 2022 to expand its anti-trafficking efforts. This included the expansion of the National Task Force against Prostitution and Human Trafficking (NMT). The NMT coordinates a number of government agencies, including the Swedish Police Agency and the Swedish Prosecution Authority, to combat prostitution and trafficking.
As mostly a transit and destination country, Sweden is very concerned with the identification of victims and the punishment of traffickers. It would support solutions centered around education, evaluation, and protection. Educating law enforcement officers and the general public on human trafficking dangers would help the apprehension of traffickers. Additionally, correctly and quickly evaluating whether someone is a victim is an important strategy in the fight against trafficking. Sweden would support international guidelines and formulas for easy evaluations. Finally, reintegrating victims safely back into society is very important to Sweden. The delegation from Sweden advocates for welfare programs and resources designated for victim support. With plans centered around these three targets, Sweden believes international strides can be made in the fight against human trafficking.
