New Sifo: 22,000 children and young people may have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation

22,000 children and young people aged 15 to 19 may have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Of these, half have met a perpetrator physically and half have been exposed online. These are the findings of a new Sifo survey commissioned by Child10, which is the first survey in Sweden to map commercial sexual exploitation among children.

– “Our survey shows that there are children and young people in the equivalent of every class in year nine and upper secondary school who have been sexually abused for money. What is needed now is a national awareness-raising campaign on the problem, involving schools, social services, healthcare and the judicial system,” says Jacob Flärdh, Secretary General of Child10.

Child10’s Sifo survey is the first to be conducted in Sweden at national level in the 15 to 19 age group. The results show a significant difference between girls and boys, with six percent of girls and two percent of boys responding that they had experience of being bought for sexual purposes. This corresponds to 16 700 girls and 5 900 boys at national level – a total of 22 000 children and young people.

– For example, children and young people can be lured in through manipulation, threats or promises of easy money. It can also be done through embellishments, such as sugar dating, where the perpetrator acts under the illusion that it is dating, and not paid abuse,” says Jacob Flärdh.

The survey asked whether children had met their perpetrator physically or online and for both boys and girls there were no significant differences. However, it was unusual to have been subjected to commercial sexual exploitation both physically and online. Among online victims, girls were by far the most likely to have been victimized via the Snapchat app.

– “Regardless of whether children are physically or digitally abused, many children say they feel responsible and guilty because they have received some form of compensation. Here, we adults must be extremely clear not to reinforce that image, but to place the responsibility where it belongs – with the perpetrator who commits an abuse and a sexual crime,” says Jacob Flärdh.

For more information please contact,
Jacob Flärdh, Secretary General Child10
Tel: 070 863 41 41 Mail: jacob@child10.org

Johanna Wilkens, Communications Officer Child10
Tel: 079 102 36 36 Mail: johanna@child10.org

Facts about commercial sexual exploitation:
Commercial sexual exploitation is sexual acts in exchange for some form of remuneration. Sexual acts can include appearing on a webcam, being filmed in a sexual situation or having sex or performing sexual acts with someone. The compensation can be anything from money, alcohol and drugs or tobacco, or a place to stay.

About the Sifo survey:
The survey was conducted online in October 2021. 1032 children aged 15-19 years answered questions about, among other things, experiences of commercial sexual exploitation and how attitudes to sex for payment are perceived in the local environment. The young people who participated are a representative cross-section of the population in terms of distribution in the country, socio-economic background and gender.