News · Crime & justice · Published 11 July 2026
Sweden adopts 2026–2028 plan against prostitution and human trafficking
The action plan focuses on children, digital exploitation, victim support and stronger prevention and law-enforcement work.
DailySweden Editorial Desk
Updated 01:23 · 3 min read
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Sweden has adopted a new action plan against exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking for 2026–2028, with a particular focus on children, young people and abuse in digital environments.
The government says recruitment, control, advertising and abuse increasingly take place through social media, apps and other digital platforms. The plan is intended to guide work against trafficking for all purposes, in both online and physical settings.
Five strategic areas are covered: prevention; detection and identification; support and protection for victims; law enforcement; and preventing people from reoffending.
The action plan focuses on children, digital exploitation, victim support and stronger prevention and law-enforcement work.
The government says the plan builds on measures already introduced during the current electoral period, including increased funding and new assignments to public authorities. Its stated aim is to strengthen preventive work and ensure that people who have been exploited can receive support and protection.
Crime & justice essentials
One measure is the preparation of a national exit programme for people exploited in prostitution. Authorities are working towards making exit programmes available at local and regional level.
The police have also been instructed to prioritise and intensify their work against sexual offences committed in digital environments, according to the government’s announcement.
What happens now
Other measures include updated educational support material concerning sexuality, consent and relationships. The plan also calls for efforts to adapt and strengthen care for children and young people in special youth homes who have experienced sexual violence or exploitation.
The National Centre for Knowledge on Women’s Violence at Uppsala University has been allocated funding to develop helplines for victims of violence. The goal is to make support more suitable and accessible for people subjected to prostitution, trafficking for sexual purposes or exploitation connected with pornography.
Part of that funding can also be used for a pilot study on more targeted support for violence with digital elements.
The action plan sets the government’s direction through 2028. The announcement does not present all measures as immediately available services: several, including the national exit programme, are still being prepared for implementation at local and regional level.
DailySweden Editorial Desk
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