The exact number of children who are forcibly removed or held abroad against their will in connection with honor-related or patriarchal oppression is not known. The undercount is believed to be large. However, Swedish authorities believe that the number has remained fairly constant over time.
But every child is one child too many, says Åsa Wallinder, police inspector at the police's national operational department, Noa.
The trips may include issues such as child marriage and other forced marriages, conversion attempts, so-called upbringing trips or female genital mutilation.
The risk increases during school holidays, as longer trips do not stand out in the same way as during school terms.
Among other things, teachers around the country testify that there are empty chairs at every new semester. That there are children who do not come back after the holidays, says Åsa Wallinder.
Misled
Many of the children and young people who are abducted are misled and believe that it is just about visiting relatives, according to Wallinder.
But many people can sense some kind of mischief. And that's exactly what adults close to the child can pick up on, learn from, and alert the police and social services, so that they can perhaps prevent these children from being taken abroad.
Children and young people can also feel anxious before a planned trip.
This may be because you may have siblings or other relatives who were married off at the same age. It may also be that something has damaged the family's reputation, perhaps just a reputation, and then the family may feel compelled to take action to restore its reputation.
New legislation
Åsa Wallinder also wants to remind you that since December 1, so-called virginity checks, virginity interventions and the issuance of virginity certificates have been criminalized.
It is also a great idea to raise the alarm if a child has been exposed to it. Partly because it is a criminal act, but also because it is a clear sign that there is a huge risk that this girl will be married off. There is also a big risk that it will happen in a country other than Sweden.
If suspicions arise, it is important to raise the alarm immediately so that the authorities can investigate and social services can issue a travel ban.
A travel ban requires very concrete suspicions of a crime and, according to Åsa Wallinder, there is no risk of innocent people being affected.
"Most trips are great where you get to meet relatives and eat good food," she says.
Last year, Swedish authorities handled 74 cases where people were forcibly abducted or detained abroad, linked to honor killings.
The 74 cases involved 134 individuals – 45 adults and 89 children.
Of the adults, 32 were women and 13 were men. Of the children, 63 were girls and 26 were boys.
In 22 of the cases, there was information about a concrete risk of child or forced marriage. In 18 cases, it was suspected that the cases involved so-called upbringing trips.
The most common countries were Somalia, Iraq, Kenya and Syria.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
