In early December, around forty participants gathered for a competence day in Karlstad, focusing on the Thai massage industry and the challenges of combating labor and sexual exploitation. The event was organized by regional coordinators, RealStars, and the County Administrative Board of Värmland. Another initiative in the region has been a campaign aimed at reducing the demand that fuels sexual exploitation.
The competence day is one of several collaborative efforts between RealStars and the regional coordinators in Bergslagen, a partnership that began in the spring of 2024. In addition to tackling exploitation within Thai massage parlors, which has also involved informing property owners, the collaboration has centered around a campaign against demand in connection with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25. The campaign focused on the sex purchase law and the recent sentencing reform, which removed fines from the penalty scale and replaced them with prison sentences. The information was distributed near public transport hubs in Karlskoga, Örebro, and Karlstad, with a QR code leading to the website sexuellexploatering.se.
Regional coordinator Johanna Lidén Norrman highlighted in a press release the importance of maintaining focus on the industry and ensuring the campaign continues to inform the public about the realities in their immediate surroundings. She also emphasized that the campaign serves as an essential channel for reaching those in need of support.
Competence Day – Växtkraft Thai in the Bergslagen Region
There are an estimated 2,000 Thai massage parlors across Sweden, with prostitution occurring in approximately 80 percent of them. The vulnerability and criminal activity surrounding these establishments have been taken seriously by both the police and regional coordinators in Bergslagen, where there are around 80–90 Thai massage parlors. The collaboration has involved the region’s newly established A-Crime Center, dedicated to combating labor exploitation.
During the competence day, the police described the ongoing issue of new parlors continually being established and women being moved between locations, where sex-buying men visit daily. On the same day, media outlets reported that the police in Örebro had charged a well-known TV4 personality with around thirty counts of purchasing sex at Thai massage parlors. The regional coordinators shared insights from their intensified efforts in the fall, recounting the vulnerability they witnessed when visiting parlors in Karlstad to offer support and ensure a victim-centered approach (Link to article in NWT).
Sharing Lessons from RealStars’ Long-Term Projects
RealStars has been able to contribute valuable knowledge from its years of outreach work, having visited 850 massage parlors in Stockholm and Gothenburg and organized around seventy empowerment meetings with women to promote a work environment free from exploitation. The projects have also introduced signage highlighting Sweden’s ban on sex purchases and an informational film with Thai subtitles, which has now also reached Värmland.
A Massage Salon Owner’s Perspective
One of the most eye-opening moments of the day came when Natthaya, a participant in Växtkraft Thai, shared her experience from inside the industry. She runs the Thai Sabai massage parlor in Järfälla (Stockholm) and described her vulnerability in facing men who come to her salon with the intention of committing sex purchase crimes. She also spoke about the fear and frustration she felt for days after encountering multiple representatives from Swedish authorities and police during joint inspections, despite her efforts to run a legitimate and law-abiding business focused on helping people through Thai massage, listen here.
A Unique Approach in the Bergslagen Region
The work being done in the Bergslagen region stands out for its proactive approach. The regional coordinators’ direct outreach to Thai massage parlors is often highlighted as a priority that Sweden must adopt on a larger scale. Many women in these situations lack the tools to seek help, making these interventions all the more critical. The human trafficking unit within Police Region Bergslagen is one of the few in Sweden with a dedicated team investigating human trafficking, pimping, labor exploitation, and sex purchases. Authorities have uncovered serious criminal activity, including millions of kronor being funneled out of Sweden. For the first time, reports indicate that more sex purchases are occurring at massage parlors than through online ads. These establishments are increasingly referred to as the new brothels in Swedish cities, including smaller towns.
The police’s human trafficking unit in the region has successfully secured five convictions for pimping and aggravated pimping. The day concluded with a participatory workshop aimed at identifying future needs and discussing how to take the work to the next level, ensuring that more professionals can contribute to this proactive effort.
