Ett prioriterat eller eftersatt område? : En fallstudie om hur arbete mot prostitution och människohandel för sexuella ändamål styrs och utförs nationellt, regionalt och lokalt i Sverige

Sammanfattning: Prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes is by the government seen as a problem in the society that needs to be defeated. Since the year 1999, purchasing sexual services has been illegal in Sweden, and since the year 2002 there is also a law concerning human trafficking. Despite legislation and many other efforts, prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes is still widespread in Sweden. Through a case study, this paper investigates how work against prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes is governed and performed on a national level in Sweden, as well as on a regional and local level in Jönköping. This has been investigated through collection and analysis of documents created by organizations that influence the police and social services work in this area. Beyond this, three interviews with professionals in the police and social services have been conducted. The result has then been analysed on the basis of institutional theory which illustrates that an organization's quest for stability can stand in the way of achieving change. The results of the thesis show that there is a clear adherence with governing directives at the national level, but that the adherence is lacking at the regional and local levels. This can be explained on the basis that work against prostitution and human trafficking has not previously been a priority issue at the governing level, which has led to the work being neglected at regional and local level.