Report on Youth Involvement in Organized Crime in Sweden and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Challenge to SDG 16 and SDG 5

A significant challenge to Sweden’s social stability and its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has emerged with the increasing involvement of teenage girls in organized crime. This trend directly undermines SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by fueling violence and threatening national security. Furthermore, it presents a complex crisis for SDG 5 (Gender Equality), as young women are simultaneously perpetrators of extreme violence and victims of exploitation, challenging traditional perceptions and policy responses.

The Erosion of Peace and Justice (SDG 16)

Organized crime networks have escalated their activities, creating a systemic threat to the nation’s peace and institutional integrity. The recruitment of youth is a central strategy, directly contravening the goal of building peaceful and inclusive societies.

• Criminal networks are increasingly recruiting minors, including children under the age of 15, to execute violent acts such as shootings and bombings.
• Operations are often orchestrated from abroad by network leaders who use encrypted messaging applications to contract out hits.
• These criminal enterprises have reportedly infiltrated key public institutions, including the welfare, legal, and education systems, weakening the state’s capacity to function effectively and accountably.
• The near-daily occurrence of shootings and bombings signifies a severe breakdown in public safety and the rule of law.

Gender Dynamics and the Threat to SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

The recruitment of teenage girls into violent roles represents a critical and previously overlooked gender dimension of organized crime. This phenomenon complicates efforts to achieve gender equality by highlighting the dual role of girls as both agents of violence and vulnerable individuals in need of protection.

Key Findings on Gender Involvement:

1. Prosecutors report that girls are actively seeking roles as contract killers, motivated to prove they are more ruthless than their male counterparts to secure their position within the networks.
2. In one year, 280 girls aged 15-17 were charged with serious violent crimes, although the precise number linked to organized crime remains under-researched.
3. Authorities acknowledge a systemic “blind spot,” where preconceived notions about gender roles have led to a failure to recognize girls as active participants in crime, thereby increasing their risk.
4. This participation exists alongside extreme vulnerability; many of these girls are victims of sexual violence and exploitation within the same criminal circles.

Socio-Economic and Health Crises: Undermining SDGs 3, 4, and 10

The involvement of youth in crime is intrinsically linked to failures in health, education, and social equity, impacting several interconnected SDGs.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): A majority of the girls involved suffer from drug addiction and untreated psychological trauma. The cycle of violence also leads to severe physical harm and death, representing a public health crisis.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Personal testimonies indicate that backgrounds of social and economic inequality, including parental addiction and incarceration, serve as pathways into criminality.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The recruitment of school-aged teenagers into full-time criminal activity signifies a profound failure to ensure access to inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

Institutional and Policy Responses

In response to the escalating crisis, Swedish authorities are beginning to address the institutional shortcomings and adapt their strategies to protect society and its youth.

1. The Justice Minister has acknowledged the need for more research into the role of women and girls in crime to develop effective interventions.
2. Sweden’s National Council for Crime Prevention is conducting a study to analyze the nature of crimes committed by girls and the violence they are subjected to, with findings expected in October.
3. The government has proposed new legislation to enhance law enforcement capabilities, including allowing the wiretapping of suspects under the age of 15, in an effort to strengthen justice institutions as per SDG 16.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article’s central theme is the rise of organized crime, violence, shootings, and bombings in Sweden. It describes how gangs pose a “systemic threat” to the country, undermining peace and security. The recruitment of teenagers and the infiltration of state institutions directly challenge the goal of building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article specifically focuses on the increasing role of teenage girls in organized crime. It highlights their unique vulnerabilities, such as being victims of sexual violence and drug abuse, and how “preconceived notions” about gender roles have led to them being overlooked by authorities. This connects to the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by addressing the specific forms of violence and exploitation they face.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article points to significant health issues among the girls involved in crime. It states that a “large majority of them have a drug addiction problem” and suffer from “untreated trauma.” The physical violence they are subjected to and inflict also has severe health consequences, linking the issue to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article describes shootings and bombings as a “near-daily occurrence” and details multiple murders and violent attacks, indicating a failure to meet this target.
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The recruitment of teenagers, including those “under 15 — the age of criminal responsibility,” to act as hitmen is a clear example of child exploitation and violence against children.
   • Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows… and combat all forms of organized crime. The article explicitly mentions that the gangs are involved in “drug and arms trafficking” and that the government is struggling to combat these “organized crime networks.”

2. Under SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The article reports that “Two-thirds of girls who have committed drug-related crimes have also been subjected to sexual violence,” directly addressing this target.

3. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. The article highlights a systemic failure in this area by stating that a “large majority of [the girls] have a drug addiction problem” and that Natalie Klockars started dealing to “finance her own cannabis addiction.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

   • For Target 16.1: The article provides a specific statistic that can serve as an indicator: “Some 280 girls aged between 15 and 17 were charged with murder, manslaughter or other violent crimes last year.” This number reflects the rate of youth involvement in severe violence. The description of shootings as a “near-daily occurrence” is a qualitative indicator of high levels of violence.
   • For Target 16.2: The practice of recruiting “teenagers under 15” is a direct, albeit qualitative, indicator of child exploitation within criminal networks.

2. Indicators for SDG 5 Targets

   • For Target 5.2: A direct quantitative indicator is mentioned: the finding that “Two-thirds of girls who have committed drug-related crimes have also been subjected to sexual violence.” This percentage measures the prevalence of sexual violence within this specific vulnerable group.

3. Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

   • For Target 3.5: The article implies a lack of progress through qualitative indicators. The statement that a “large majority of them have a drug addiction problem and have some kind of untreated trauma” suggests low coverage of treatment and prevention services for substance abuse and mental health issues among this demographic.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com