Sweden supports CBSS work against human trafficking with new funding
Sweden has granted SEK 1.5 million to support CBSS activities against human trafficking.
This March, the Government of Sweden has granted SEK 1.5 million – or approximately EUR 130,000 – to the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) to support activities in 2026 aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent prostitution and combat human trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region.
“Preventing and combatting prostitution and human trafficking is a priority for the Swedish government. The activities that CBSS will carry out will increase knowledge among those working on these issues and help people who risk being exploited,” said Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality, Nina Larsson.
The funding will notably support the implementation of regional guidelines for investigating human trafficking cases, known as the Investigation Protocol, across the Baltic Sea Region and Ukraine. The activities will contribute to improving investigative practices and strengthening cooperation among authorities and practitioners working on trafficking cases.
The funds will also support the implementation of the CBSS Handbook for Embassies and Diplomatic Missions on How to Assist and Protect Victims of Human Trafficking. In 2026, the CBSS will launch an accompanying online training for diplomats and consular officers based on the handbook.
The activities will be implemented through the CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB), which coordinates regional cooperation on preventing trafficking, supporting victims and strengthening criminal justice responses across the Baltic Sea Region.
“The Swedish funding is crucial for advancing the CBSS’s work against human trafficking and will support the implementation of our key deliverables,” said Edi Mujaj, Head of the TF-THB at the CBSS.
Source: Government Offices of Sweden