If you have worked for a long time with these questions, there’s a limit. I’ve done this for 11 years now. Realstar’s focus on counteracting demand is good, and of course, the support and the rights, and to give moral compensation for victims of sexual exploitation, should always be at the center. I have increasingly realized that a big part of our work has become more difficult and might even be obstructed by the so-called digital brothels, operating without risk in Sweden and cooperating with the big demand.
That these sites are up and running and represent a motor for prostitution and human trafficking, weakens other achievements of different participants in society.
That these sites are up and running sends the wrong message to perpetrators, sex buyers as well as pimps. It’s like a blow to the head regarding the sex purchasing act.
That these sites are up and running gives a message to victims that society doesn’t take these questions seriously. It can even contribute to imposing guilt on the victims and at the same time making our work to reach out and offer exit programmes more difficult. Society is sending mixed messages. The victims are often in a so-called invisible prison, made up by the perpetrators, sex buyers, pimps and traffickers. On the surface, ads with bodies, looking like any other e-commerce sites, are made available as merchandise on websites.
Read more in DNs article.
Sweden must continue to lead in addressing the issue of sexual exploitation of women and children. To stop the commercialized violence against women and children, a comprehensive approach is required. Besides the sites being closed down, a crime victim status, for those exploited is needed, together with extended efforts to identify victims of sexual exploitation as well as increased protection with support and exit programmes, alongside with counteracting the demand.
/Malin Roux Johansson, founder Realstars
Also read the press release.
The following persons and participants stand behind the report:
Malin Roux Johansson, General Secretary Realstars
Jacob Flärdh, General Secretary Child10
Madeleine Sundell, Human Rights Lawyer and National Coordinator against Human Trafficking, The Salvation Army
Juni Livion, Lawyer at Crime Bureau
Olga Persson, President Unizon
Parul Sharma, Ambassador for Realstars and Human Rights Lawyer
Zandra Kanakaris, General Secretary 1000 Möjligheter that runs Ellencentret