Global Progress Towards Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children
A global problem requires truly global solutions to address the sexual exploitation of children.
Indicators
Age of Consent
No
The age of sexual consent is 15, for both girls and boys. A close-in-age exception applies where it is clear, with consideration of slight age differences between the persons involved, that the sexual act did not involve any abuse against the child. An assessment has to be made on each case individually.
Analysis of country legislation on age of sexual consent, 2024
Extraterritoriality & Extradition
Partial
The Swedish Penal Code provides for active extraterritoriality including Swedish nationals, habitual residents, as well as nationals of Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Norway who are habitual residents of Sweden. Passive extraterritoriality is limited to crimes committed in territority belonging to no States. However, Sweden provides for universal jurisdiction for offences with a penalty of at least 4 years of imprisonment under Swedish Law (only very serious offences such as trafficking and gross CSAM offences are covered), and for offences with at least 6 months of imprisonment (all SEC related offences) only if the offender is located in Sweden. Double criminality is excluded for most SEC related offences with regards to extraterritoriality (except for sexual molestation and grooming).
Extradition includes SEC related offences as extraditable if they are punished with at least one year of imprisonment. All SEC related offences are considered extraditable under the European Arrest Warrant Framework. Double criminality is required for extradition (except between Sweden and EU/Nordic countries).
Swedish Criminal Code,
Swedish Extradition for Criminal Offences Act 1957, 1965 (status as of 2019) ,1957 (status as of 2003)
CSAM Definition
Not Yet Assessed
Background Check Required
Not Yet Assessed
National Commitments
Not Yet Assessed
Child Advocacy Centers
Not Yet Assessed
SEC Police Unit
Not Yet Assessed
Protection Standards Travel and Tourism
Not Yet Assessed
Public SEC Case Data
Not Yet Assessed
Age of Consent Law is Appropriate
The age of sexual consent for both males and females is 18 and a close in age exemption (up to 3 years) is provided for consensual sexual relationships between adolescents.
The age of sexual consent is the legally defined age at which a person is considered mature enough to agree to sexual activity. The age of sexual consent varies across jurisdictions around the world and there is no international legal instrument establishing it, however various forms of advocacy have encouraged States to establish a minimum age under which engaging in sexual contact is considered a criminal offence. This is intended to prevent sexual contact with children and to prevent argument that the child consented as a defence.
Often national provisions related to the age of sexual consent include an exception, known as a close-in-age exemption, making consensual sexual activities between young people lawful if the partners are of similar ages and the age difference is not higher than a certain number of years.
To ensure that cases of child sexual exploitation do not go unpunished, ECPAT advocates for the age of sexual consent to be set at 18 for both males and females with a close-in-age exemption of 2-3 years provided in order to ensure young people are not penalised for consensual sexual acts with peers. The age from which the exemption applies should be established by States but may begin for young people somewhere between 12 and 16 years of age.
Yes The national legislation explicitly indicates that the age of sexual consent unequivocally is 18 for both males and females, with a close-in-age exemption for sexual acts between peers (of up to 3 years) is provided by law.