Population:

8.5 million

Number of prostitutes:

2,500

Of which migrant:

700

De Jure

Prostitution:

"Prostitution is legal but pimping, brothels and live sex shows are illegal"

Trafficking

Specific legislation outlaws trafficking, with a sentence of 1-2 years imprisonment

New legislation was introduced in January 1999 which criminalises the clients of prostitutes. Paying for or offering to pay for sex is now illegal, punishable by a fine (about US$ 1000-2000) or a maximum six-month prison sentence. Sweden is the only country that outlaws the buying but not the selling for sex.

The penalty for trafficking in human beings is no more than one or two years' imprisonment.

De Facto

"The [1999] law was introduced to stop the increasing influx of eastern European women coming to Sweden for the sex trade. So far only two men have been charged with buying sexual services, and the number of prostitutes and clients is back to normal levels in the main cities of Sweden."

In Stockholm there has been a considerable increase in young women from the Baltic states and Russia on the streets. In Gothenburg the phenomenon concerns women from Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria.

On 8 October 1999 Swedish police smashed a sex-slave ring by which more than 25 eastern European women were forced to work as prostitutes. Four people, including one woman, were arrested.

Trafficking in children is not widespread in Sweden

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