Identification

Who is responsible for identifying a victim of human trafficking?

There is currently no formal system for identifying a person as a victim of human trafficking in Sweden, aside from being recognized as the injured party in a preliminary investigation. Hence, anyone with relevant knowledge can identify presumed victims of human trafficking. 

Both professionals and non-professionals can refer presumed victims to assistance. 

The National Coordination against Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings (NSPM) in the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, is responsible for improving cooperation between authorities, other stakeholders, and international actors, as well as providing guidance materials, capacity development, and knowledge building in the field. NSPM does not directly coordinate victim assistance or handle individual cases.

Together with the County Administrative Boards and the municipalities, NSPM co-funds regional coordinators against prostitution and trafficking. The regional coordinators are employed by the social services in the municipalities. They assist regional authorities, such as the police and social services, support trafficking victims, and provide expert knowledge on human trafficking at a regional level.

The regional coordinators and NSPM’s hotline are available as a means of support for professionals in order to assess whether a person may be a victim of human trafficking. The Swedish Mi­gration Agency has designated coordinators who are available to provide support to their case managers in the assessment.

Special procedures for identification of a child victim of human trafficking

In general, the identification process works in the same way for presumed adult and child victims of human trafficking. Social services have a special responsibility for children and young people.

A case may be initiated by social services through a request for action, a report of suspected child abuse, or other means. Certain agencies and professionals are required to report any suspicions of child abuse to social services and share any information relevant to assessing a child’s need for protection and support. This obligation applies to concerns involving presumed child victims of human trafficking, as well as the children of victims of human trafficking or suspected perpetrators. The duty to report takes precedence over confidentiality between authorities.

The police must additionally cooperate with social services and inform them of any circumstances requiring action from their part. 

National hotlines for victims of human trafficking

The NSPM runs a telephone hotline for professionals seeking advice in human trafficking issues. The hotline is open Monday to Friday 8.00-16.30. NSPM can also be contacted via email.

Hotline:  +46 20 392 90 00 

Email:[email protected].

Victims can seek assistance through several different organisations.

The Swedish Civil Society Platform against Human Trafficking coordinates non-governmental organisations offering support and assistance to victims of human trafficking. The platform is also responsible for coordinating the National Support Programme, hat can finance certified service providers included in the platform. The NSP can be contacted by phone: +46 70 760 57 92 or via email: [email protected]. 

The Mika Centres offer support to persons with experience of prostitution and sexual exploitation. They also support relatives, friends and partners who are worried about someone involved in prostitution and sexual exploitation. There are Mika Centres in several cities across Sweden:

Victim Support Sweden offers assistance and support to victims of crime and their relatives. The organisation can be contacted by phone at 116 006, or by visiting the website Brottsofferjouren.

Sweden’s national women’s helpline – Kvinnofridslinjen – provides support to anyone who has been subjected to physical, psychological, or sexual violence. Calls are free and anonymous. Women can call the number +46 20 50 50 50, men can call +46 20 80 80 80, and transgender persons can call +46 20 55 00 00.

Bris offers children and young adults up to the age of 18 a secure, anonymous, and free way to email, chat, or call a counsellor. Bris provides support on issues relating to physical abuse and other issues where a child is mistreated, has problems, or needs support and advice from knowledgeable and empathetic adults. You can reach the organisation by phone at 116 111 or at their website: Bris – Barnens Rätt i Samhället. 

There are several women’s and girls’ shelters that offer support to women, girls, and transgender persons who have been exposed to violence. These include:

RFSL runs a support centre for LGBTQI+ people who have been subjected to harassment, threats, or violence. Relatives, friends, or people who meet the target group in their work are also welcome to get in touch. Support is offered through on-site calls, phone calls, video calls, or e-mail. The support is free of charge, can be offered anonymously, and the staff has a duty of confidentiality. The phone number of RFSL is +46 20 34 13 16. Website: RFSL Stödmottagning – RFSL : RFSL.

Pegasus is a website for those who are 15-25 years old, LGBTQI+ and who have thoughts about sex for compensation. You can find the website at https://pegasus.se/. 

Killar.se is a website that offers advice and support to anyone between the ages of 10 and 25 who identifies as male. The link to the website is What’s on your mind? – Killar.se.

UMO is a website for everyone between the ages of 13 and 25. It provides information about issues such as the body, sex, relationships, mental health, alcohol and drugs, and self-esteem. You can access the website at www.umo.se.