Swedish statement at the UNGA high-level meeting on Human Trafficking

Dear President

Honourable Members of the General Assembly,

Dear participants and colleagues,

Trafficking in persons is a despicable and serious crime that violates the rights of its many victims. Women and children are particularly exposed. We all need to do our utmost to prevent and end this crime.

In many of our countries serious and organised crime is increasingly dynamic, complex and highly adaptive to new conditions. To this Sweden is not an exception. The compliance of the criminal networks has been very evident during the Covid-19 pandemic but also when new crises appear worldwide as traffickers often abuse these situations to profit from the vulnerability of people in need.

Another example of the adaptability of the criminal networks is the misuse of technology for which children are particularly exposed. But let us not forget that technology can also be a perfect tool for law enforcement to prevent and combat crime.

To provide the best conditions for law enforcement bodies, the international framework as well as national legislation must develop. International cooperation and cooperation with internet service providers are also crucial. In this work the UNODC and the Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) have key roles to play.

To end trafficking we need to address the core root cause, namely the demand. Trafficking exists because someone is paying for it.

Sweden applies a gendered approach to trafficking. It is addressed and included in the work to combat men’s violence against women. And the work is an integral part of the Swedish feminist foreign policy. 

Sweden was the first country in the world to criminalize the purchase – but not the sale – of sexual services. The ban came into force in 1999 and it has been an important tool to counteract trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It has made Sweden a less attractive market for traffickers and it has further strengthened the victims position.

The UN Protocol and its article 9.5 reminds us that we all have an obligation to address the demand that fosters trafficking for all forms of exploitation. Sweden urges all Member States to fully implement the Protocol.

Sweden is equally committed to support victims of trafficking and the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons is an excellent mechanism to do so as it ensures invaluable assistance to victims. I am therefore happy to announce that Sweden will continue our support to the Fund with a contribution amounting to plus 565.000 USD. We strongly recommend other Member States to do the same.

We cannot accept the serious abuse that victims of trafficking are facing and that people are indifferent to their situation. We need to disrupt this business model of exploitation and find efficient mechanisms and cooperation models to do so.

This Appraisal shows that a lot has been done but still we are not being successful in targeting this crime.

Addressing the demand, and the online dimension need to be at the heart of attention in our future joint efforts in order to efficiently combat and end this crime. We need to include surviors in the efforts ahead.

Sweden reaffirms its commitment to this important work and the adoption of the Political Declaration on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Thank you.