In Utnyttjad, våldtagen och såld, author Paulina Bengtsson recounts her harrowing experiences as a sex slave in Sweden at the age of 22. Her perpetrator, Jim, deceives and manipulates, rapes, and records videos of his crimes. Despite the horrors she endured, Paulina eventually escapes and goes on to found Novahuset, an organization dedicated to supporting… Read more »
RealStars’ initiative to connect with young people through punk culminated in a festival on June 1, 2024 — PUNK AGAINST TRAFFICKING. The event was a great success, with attendees streaming in and out of the vibrant space at Kafé 44. Both perpetrators and victims of commercial sexual exploitation are becoming younger, making it more crucial… Read more »
Recently, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, presented an important report highlighting that prostitution is both a form and a consequence of men’s violence against women: “Prostitution and violence against women and girls.” RealStars welcomes the report’s clarity, especially in a climate where actors with ties to exploitation push… Read more »
The End of May Marked Annual Meeting Season – On May 28 and 30, RealStars Sverige and RealStars Stockholm held their annual meetings to review the impactful work of 2023. These events have inspired change in Fair Sex initiatives and provided a platform for essential discussions. The evenings began with insightful presentations, setting the stage… Read more »
Many annual meetings are held during spring, and RealStars’ parent and subsidiary organizations are no exception. As per tradition, RealStars Sweden and RealStars Stockholm invite you to join a united effort against trafficking, featuring engaging presentations prior to the annual meetings. We look forward to seeing both long-time loyal members and new curious faces! REALSTARS… Read more »
Hi! My name is Christine Gandal, and I will be taking over as the new process leader for RealStars in Stockholm. Unfortunately, Emelie can no longer continue, but I am excited to have the opportunity to work on combating trafficking. I hope to make a difference during my time here at RealStars. This spring, I… Read more »
On Monday, our process leader in Stockholm visited Kunskapsgymnasiet Globen and held three lectures for first-year students. The lecture was the final component of the school’s theme week on sexuality, consent, and relationships. Together, we discussed the root causes of prostitution, the myths that allow paid abuse to continue, and who is affected. We reflected… Read more »
Hello! My name is Emelie, and I have just started as the new process leader for RealStars. I am approaching this role with great anticipation, and I believe this will be a very exciting and educational year. Below is a brief introduction about me and why I want to be a part of RealStars. In… Read more »
At the end of 2022, the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande was released and it is available to stream on Draken Film. Several Swedish critics have praised the film, and it has also attracted attention because of the famous actors Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack playing the lead roles. Now we can read… Read more »
In the final months of 2023, the Swedish government finally put sexual exploitation on the agenda and presented three important inquiries. These inquiries focus on stronger legal protections for young people, exit programs, and the vulnerabilities within pornography. The issues and inquiries are crucial for Sweden’s efforts to combat prostitution and some of the proposed… Read more »
