School of Law

Profile

Contact

• Email: g.ekberg.1@research.gla.ac.uk

PhD Topic

International human rights law, prostitution and trafficking in human beings

Supervisors

Ms Sarah Craig
Professor Michele Burman (SCCJR)

 

Biography

Gunilla S. Ekberg is a Swedish-Canadian Feminist lawyer (Barrister & Solicitor, B.C., 2001) and international expert on the human rights of women and girls. For six years, Ms. Ekberg held the position as Special Advisor to the Swedish government on trafficking in human beings, responsible for developing public and legislative policy.

She is a respected researcher, speaker and writer, who is regularly called upon to act as an expert on the human rights of women and girls and trafficking in human beings to international bodies, parliamentary commissions, and statutory and law enforcement agencies. Ms. Ekberg has directed numerous national and multilateral projects on the prevention and combat of trafficking in human beings, participated in the negotiations of the UN Palermo Protocol and the Council of Europe Convention on Actions against Trafficking in Persons, and acted as an expert to the European Commission through the DAPHNE III programme on violence against women, as well as on topics such as migration, prisoners’ rights, non-discrimination and criminal justice.

She collaborates with women's equality-seeking organizations around the world on different projects concerning women's human rights, violence against women and trafficking in human beings, most recently in Belgium. Ms. Ekberg is studying for a PhD in Law at the University of Glasgow, while teaching graduate courses on international human rights law and gender.

Research Interests

• Feminist legal theory
• Constitutional law and equality rights
• International public law and international human rights
• Land rights and citizenship
• Violence against women
• Sexual and reproductive rights
• Trafficking in human beings

Publications

Reports

Ekberg, Gunilla S. et al, Swedish Laws, Policies and Interventions on Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings: A Comprehensive Overview (Stockholm, Sweden, 22 November 2017). Online: https://feminismandhumanrights.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/overview-swedish-laws-and-policies-thb-gunilla-s-ekberg-171122-2.pdf

Ekberg, Gunilla S. and Werkman, Karin, A Snapshot Study of the Prevalence, Laws, Policies and Practices regarding Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation in Belgium (Brussels, Belgium: Ministry for Equal Opportunities, Vrouwenraad and Conseil des Femmes Francophone de Belgique (21 October 2016) (pp. 356).

Ekberg, Gunilla S. and Werkman, Karin, A Snapshot Study of the Prevalence, Laws, Policies and Practices regarding Prostitution and
Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation in Belgium (Brussels, Belgium, 21 October 2016) (pp. 356).

Ekberg, Gunilla S. et al., National Report on Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings- Sweden (Stockholm, Sweden: Feminism and Human Rights, 15 August 2017) (pp.39). The report is published as part of a two-year research project, Study examining campaign strategies in Member States to introduce legislative measures to discourage demand for sex trafficking’, funded by the Internal Security Fund of the European Union (HOME/2015/ISFP/AG/THBX).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Schwedische Gesetze, Politische Strategien und Maßnahmen gegen Prostitution und Menschenhandel- Eine Übersicht (13 July 2016) (pp. 31).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Brief: Swedish Law, Policies and Interventions on Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings - An Overview (26 June 2015) (pp. 25).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Final Report – Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions in the Republic of Belarus (Lund, Sweden: Raoul Wallenberg Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, 2013) (pp. 65).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Final Report – Establishment of a Network on the Prevention of Human Trafficking in Relation to the 2012 London Olympic Games (London, UK: Equality and Human Rights Commission, May 2010) (pp. 27).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., and Atkins, Helen, CATW Fact Book on Trafficking and Prostitution in European Union Member States 2009 (Brussels, Belgium: CATW, 2009). (pp. 100).

Ekberg, Gunilla S, Trafficking: En rapport om prostitution och handel med människor i EU [Trafficking in Human Beings: A Report about Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings] (Stockholm, Sweden: Vänsterpartiets EU-sekretariat, 2009). (pp.12).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Final Report: Establishment of a Shelter for Women and Children, Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings for Sexual Purposes, in the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: UAE Red Crescent, 2008) (pp. 82).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Draft Report on Forced Marriage and Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Geneva: Switzerland, OHCHR, 2006-2007).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Proposal for a National Action Plan for the Work to Prevent and Combat Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings for Sexual Purposes (Stockholm, Sweden: Government Offices, Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications, Division for Gender Equality, 2005) (pp.133).

Ekberg, Gunilla S. and Mohan Das Manandhar, Final Report: Review of the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Women at the National Human Rights Commission in Nepal (Kathmandu, Nepal: UNDP-NHRC, August 2005). (pp.73).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Final Report on the Nordic Baltic Campaign against Trafficking in Women, (Copenhagen, Denmark: Nordic Council of Ministers, 2003). (pp.144).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Global Report on Trafficking in Women and Children (Stockholm, Sweden: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2002). (pp. 152).

 

Articles

Ekberg, Gunilla S., “Der Swedische Ansatz: Ein Land der Europäischen Union bekämpft Menschenhandel zur sexuellen Ausbeutung”, in Gunderson, Connie, Müller, Anna and Gesa C. Teichert (eds.), Zwangsprostitution und Menschenhandel [Teilband 16: Internationale Frauen- und Genderforschung in Niedersachen] (Berlin, Germany: LIT Verlag, 2013) (pp. 49-64).

Ekberg, Gunilla S. and Wahlberg, K, “The Swedish Approach:  A European Union Country Shows How to Effectively Fight Sex Trafficking” (2011) 2:2 Solutions Journal.

Ekberg, Gunilla S., “En fullträff värd att exportera” in the Swedish newspaper Arbetaren, July 28, 2010.

Ekberg, Gunilla S., “Prostitution is Not Inevitable, Not Inescapable, Not Necessary” in Aghatise, Esohe, Ekberg, Gunilla S., and Hubert Dubois Trafficking and Prostitution: Three Papers (Oslo, Norway: Women’s Front of Norway, 2008).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., “The Swedish Law that Prohibits the Purchase of Sexual Services: Best Practices for Prevention of Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings” (2004) 10 Violence Against Women 1187 (Sage Publications).

Ekberg, Gunilla S., “The International Debate regarding Prostitution and Trafficking in Women: Refuting the Arguments” in The Effects of Legalization of Prostitution Activities: A Critical Analysis (Stockholm, Sweden: Division for Gender Equality, Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications, 2003). [Also available in English, German and Spanish] 

Ekberg, Gunilla S., “Palermo-protokollet: FN: s protokoll om att förebygga, bekämpa och bestraffa människohandel, särskilt kvinno- och barnhandel” (2002) 1 NIKK Magasin, Nordic Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Research (NIKK) [Also available in Polish, Czech, Spanish and Russian].

Ekberg, Gunilla, “Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime” in (2002) 1 NIKK-Magasin (Journal of Nordic Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Research) 40.

Ekberg, Gunilla S., « Concepts de Base et Enjeu du Débat », « Convention contre la criminalité transnationale organisé » and « Le cas de la Suède » - Three articles published in Compte-rendu des journées de formation organisées par le Comité québécois femmes et développement (CQFD) les 15 et 16 mars 2001. Online: http://www.aqoci.qc.ca/cqfd/index.html

Ekberg, Gunilla S. and Vivienne Ball, “Human Rights Case Study on Trafficking in Women” in the Canadian Human Rights Foundation’s International Human Rights Training Program Case Book 1999.

Parr, Joy and Gunilla Ekberg, “Mrs. Consumer and Mr. Keynes in Postwar Canada and Sweden” (1996) 8:2 Gender and History 212-230.

 

Submissions

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights regarding Bill C-36 Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act - An Act to amend the Criminal Code in response to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Attorney General of Canada v. Bedford and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, July 9, 2014. 

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Submission to the Home Office on New Prostitution Legislation, London, UK, October 8, 2008.

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Submissions to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women -Study on Human Trafficking, Ottawa, December 5, 2006 and Ottawa, Canada, February 5, 2007. Online: http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?SourceId=188078

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Submission to the Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ottawa, Canada, May 4, 2005. Online: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committee/CommitteePublication.aspx?COM=0&SourceId=115904&SwitchLanguage=1 (Eng) http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committee/CommitteePublication.aspx?COM=0&SourceId=115903&SwitchLanguage=1 (French)

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on Bill C-11: An Act Respecting Immigration to Canada and the Granting of Refugee Protection to Persons who are Displaced, Persecuted or in Danger (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: CATW Canada, 2001). 

Ekberg, Gunilla S., Submission to the Canadian Governmental Interdepartmental Working Group Against Human Trafficking (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: CATW Canada, October 4, 2001).

Awards

Sponsor/funder

Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research