THINK: Simon Häggström – the forgotten face of human trafficking

THINK: The Girls Who Ran – On the Forgotten Face of Human Trafficking

Simon Häggström is the author of several books about the sex trade in Sweden. He also works as a police inspector specializing in prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes at the Norrmalm Police Department in central Stockholm.

Drawing from his books, Simon will speak about a form of sexual exploitation that is often overlooked in our society. He sheds light on how children and young people - most of them born and raised in Sweden - are drawn into the grip of prostitution, on the men who exploit them without remorse, and on society’s failure to combat this issue.

Join us for an eye-opening lecture where Simon offers a glimpse into a world that few people truly understand.

About Simon Häggström
Simon Häggström grew up in the province of Småland and trained as a police officer in Stockholm. He began his career combating open drug trafficking as part of the “Plattan Group,” but it was in the fight against prostitution and human trafficking that he truly found his calling.

Since 2008, he has worked with the Stockholm Police and the National Operations Department, focusing on sexual exploitation—an area in which he has become one of Sweden’s most visible and committed voices.

His expertise has also gained international attention, including his participation in a 2014 hearing in the French Senate as an expert on Sweden’s sex purchase law—a model that France later adopted.

In addition to his police work, Häggström is a prolific author. With stories grounded in real-life experiences, he has captivated thousands of readers—especially through his novel series that began with The Girls Who Ran (2019), followed by titles such as In the Shadow of Sector 5, The Sisters and the Solitude, and The Hundredth Woman. In 2025, he returned to nonfiction with Traces of Darkness, offering fresh insight into the police’s work against human trafficking in Stockholm.

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Moderator: Malin Lundqvist, UngHästen

The THINK lecture with Simon Häggström is a co-organized event between Sara kulturhus and UngHästen.

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THINK.
The lecture series THINK at Sara kulturhus presents some of Sweden's foremost speakers. With their insights and stories, the speakers sow small seeds of thought in the audience's consciousness and inspire reflection. Sometimes transparent, captivating, and smart. Other times creative, uplifting, and just a little bit wonderful.

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Good to know before your visit:

Language: this lecture is held in Swedish.
Age limit: none.
Wardrobe: is mandatory for bag and jacket. The cloakroom is located adjacent to the stage for the event and the fee is included in your ticket.
Admission: approx. 30 minutes before the event starts.
Eating: Food and drink are not allowed to be brought into our stages.
Hearing aids: available in all our scenes, read more here.
Walker: placed outside the entrance, staff on site are available if you need help.
Lift: located at stairwell B, left side.
Wheelchair spaces: All wheelchair spaces are accessible via lift, stairwell B, left side. Due to evacuation regulations, a wheelchair ticket must be presented by a wheelchair user for entry to events in Stage 1 or Stage 2. Tickets cannot be repurchased in the event of an incorrect purchase, read more here.

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Would you like to enjoy something delicious along with our lecture?

In collaboration with Miss Voon, we offer a TÄNK Menu, featuring a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling wine (alcoholic option available) and four of the restaurant’s famous lobster tacos (vegetarian option available)!
Price: 249 SEK (with alcohol, 299 SEK).

The menu is served in the bar, so availability is limited. Don’t forget to show your TÄNK ticket to take advantage of this offer!

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Craving for a lovely mingling before the lecture?

Before the event, The Wood Hotel by Elite serves drinks and light snacks in the South foyer.
Serving opens 45 minutes before the event starts.

Welcome!