International Workshop on Sexual Corruption
Participants of the UU-RESC conference December 2025
Between 3 and 5 December 2025, the Uppsala University Research Environment on Sexual Corruption (UU-RESC) hosted the International Workshop on Sexual Corruption at the Department of Government, Uppsala University.
The workshop brought together leading researchers, practitioners, and experts to reflect on and advance the development of this emerging field. Over three days, participants discussed ongoing and future research, policy directions, and opportunities for collaboration.
The event also marked the official launch of UU-RESC and the start of work toward establishing a sustained international expert network.
Main takeaways from the workshop
Sexual corruption is not confined to specific regions but manifests worldwide, requiring both context-sensitive responses and shared analytical frameworks that focus on abuse of entrusted authority.
Naming and clearly defining sexual corruption is essential to make the phenomenon visible, maintain focus on abuse of power, and prevent it from being diluted within broader anti-corruption or gender-based violence agendas.
Data and measurement are critical for understanding prevalence, risk factors, and contextual dynamics. Yet stigma, silence, and gendered norms make these phenomena difficult to measure adequately. Strengthening data collection therefore requires methodological innovation and sustained collaboration.
As countries adopt varied legal approaches to sexual corruption, comparative learning is needed to identify effective models, strengthen victim protection, ensure accountability, and address remaining legal gaps.
Prevention requires shifting focus to perpetrators and systems through ethics, education, sanctions, and accountability mechanisms, rooted in collaboration across research, practice, policy, and advocacy.
Session 6: Glocal strategies for change (video recording of the session)
Programme
Wednesday 3 December
Location: Ostrom Hall
12.00–13.00 Lunch
13.00–13.30 Welcome
Elin Bjarnegård (Uppsala University)
Sven Oskarsson (Uppsala University)
13.30–14.30 Keynote: Foundations and futures
This keynote is a conversation between pioneer Nancy Hendry and Elin
Bjarnegård, head of the new research environment on sexual corruption
(UU-RESC). They will shed light on the origins of the work on sexual
corruption, how it started, why it was needed, how it evolved, and how it
contributes to knowledge about corruption. The conversation will also point towards future directions in both research and practice.
Speakers:
Nancy Hendry (IAWJ)
Elin Bjarnegård (Uppsala University)
Discussant: Amanda Gouws (Stellenbosch University)
Moderator: Dolores Calvo (Uppsala University)
14.30–16.00 Session 1: Manifestations across contexts
This panel reminds us what we are here to talk about. It explores concrete manifestations and examples across different sectors and countries.
Moderator: Åsa Eldén (Uppsala University)
Participants:
Marylisa Sara Alemi (University of London)
Nathan Birdsall (University of Bristol)
Robert Gillanders (Dublin City University)
Ortrun Merkle (UNU-MERIT)
16.00–16.30 Coffee
16.30–18.00 Session 2: Measuring the unspoken
This session showcases cutting-edge methodologies developed to capture and measure a phenomenon that is stigmatised, sensitive, and silenced.
Moderator: Lena Wängnerud (Gothenburg University)
Participants:
Amy Alexander (Gothenburg University)
Marie Chêne (Transparency International-S)
Aksel Sundström (Gothenburg University)
19.00 Dinner at Il Forno Italiano (S:t Olofsgatan 8)
Thursday 4 December
Location: Ostrom Hall
9.00–10.00 Keynote: Aspirations and absences in policy and law
This keynote is a conversation between three leading experts in the field
of anti-corruption. They will share experiences and insights from the
intersection of research and policy, as well as from the process of including sexual corruption in the UN Convention against Corruption.
Speakers:
Monica Kirya (U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre)
Ketakandriana Rafitoson (Transparency International Secretariat, Madagascar)
Jennifer Sarvary Bradford (UNODC)
Discussant: Monika Bauhr (Gothenburg University)
Moderator: Silje Lundgren (Linköping University)
10.00–10.30 Coffee
10.30–11.30 Session 3: Within and without legislative frameworks
This session presents ongoing efforts to map legislation relevant to sexual corruption across the globe. It also highlights both the challenges and the potential found in concrete local processes of developing legal frameworks.
Moderator: Amy Alexander (Gothenburg University)
Participants:
Dolores Calvo (Uppsala University)
Åsa Eldén (Uppsala University)
Janithrika Jayasundara (Uppsala University)
Anna Petherick (University of Oxford)
Marija Risteska (Centre for Research and Policy Making, Macedonia)
11.30–12.30 Session 4: Power, perpetration and impunity
This session discusses examples of powerful perpetrators and the factors that enable abuse of power and allow impunity. It also points towards the role of men as agents of change.
Moderator: Sofia Jonsson (Örebro University)
Participants:
Emily Elia (Gothenburg University)
Hannah Richards (University of Bristol)
Malin Wieslander (Linköping University)
12.30–14.00 Lunch
14.00–15.30 Session 5: Ethical principles for responsible practices
This session tackles the issue of “do no harm” guidelines for tools and
methods in the work against sexual corruption. It discusses how to mitigate unintended harm and support ethical and responsible practices.
Moderator: Alison Matthews (Transparency International-S)
Participants:
Marina Benavides (Transparency International Argentina)
Gabriela Camacho (Transparency International-S)
Petra Tötterman Andorff (Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, Sweden)
Ruvini Wijedeera (Transparency International Sri Lanka)
15.30–16.00 Coffee
16.00–17.30 Open panel: Challenging the self-image. Abuse of power for sex in Sweden
Location: Brusewitz Hall
Does abuse of power for sex take place in Sweden? This panel challenges two aspects of Sweden’s self-image: being non-corrupt and gender-equal. It explores concrete instances of sexual corruption and the recent process of developing new legislation to address the problem.
Welcome: Joakim Palme (Uppsala University)
Moderator: Monica Kirya (U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre)
Participants:
Elin Bjarnegård (Uppsala University)
Sandra Friberg (Uppsala University)
Silje Lundgren (Linköping University)
Ulrik Åshuvud (Transparency International Sweden)
17.30–19.00 Mingle
19.45 Dinner at Domtrappkällaren (St: Eriks Torg 15)
Friday 5 December
Location: Ostrom Hall
9.00–10.30 Session 6: Glocal strategies for change
This session shares experiences of early, ground breaking, persistent, and
long-term advocacy efforts against sexual corruption. It showcases best
practices and mobilisation, and addresses key challenges such as victimblaming, weak institutional responses and impunity.
Moderator: Betina Pasteknik (UNCAC Coalition)
Participants:
Shyamala Gomez (Center for Equality and Justice, Sri Lanka)
Mia Mjengwa Bergdahl (Karibu Tanzania Organization, Tanzania)
Andoniaina Liantsoa Rakotoarivelo (Transparency International Madagascar)
Bathsheba Tagwai (Transparency International Nigeria)
Lucia Vilimovská (Transparency International Czech Republic)
10.30–11.00 Coffee
11.00–12.00 Closing discussion: Towards accountability
This closing session connects the dots, bringing together the main
takeaways from the workshop sessions, feedback from participants and the paths ahead.
12.00–13.00 Lunch