Sweden and Estonia have officially ratified an agreement allowing Sweden to rent prison capacity in Estonia.
The new Act on Temporary Enforcement Abroad (Lag om tillfällig verkställighet utomlands) entered into force on 3 July 2026. Under the agreement, Swedish prisoners transferred to Estonia will serve their sentences in Estonian prisons under the supervision of the Estonian Prison and Probation Service, with Estonian prison law generally governing the execution of their sentences.
Over the past months, COPE, BUFFF and Räddningsmissionen have engaged with the Swedish Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders to ensure that any transfer of imprisoned people abroad takes into account the potential impact on children and family relationships. International travel and accommodation costs and other practical barriers can place a significant burden on families who are often already financially vulnerable. While digital communication can provide valuable support, video calls cannot replace the importance of direct, in-person contact between children and their parents.
The new Swedish legislation recognises that decisions on temporary enforcement abroad must take into account an individual’s connection to Sweden — including their right to private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and their family relationships. For children, this means their right to maintain direct and meaningful contact with both parents must be considered, with the best interests of the child at the heart of the assessment.
However, ensuring these rights in practice will require careful consideration. Alongside its members BUFFF and Solrosen, COPE continues to advocate for solutions that prevent children from bearing the consequences of logistical and financial barriers — including support for family visits, child-friendly visits and access to communication tools that complement, rather than replace, in-person contact.
As Sweden and Estonia move forward with this arrangement, it is essential that decisions be guided not only by practical considerations, but also by a commitment to protecting children’s rights, supporting their development and maintaining their relationships with their parents.