Preventing Sexual Slavery in Ukraine: Women for Women Groups Leading the Way in Anti-Trafficking

Since gaining its independence in 1991, Ukraine has fallen into an economic abyss from which it has begun to emerge only since 2000.[1] At its bottom in 1999, official GDP for Ukraine was only 35 percent of the level in 1989.[2] According to the World Bank, this constitutes one of the most severe economic declines of any country in the 20th century.[3] Over the past five years, however, the country has seen a remarkable shift in stabilization with budget deficits held in check and lower inflation rates.  Yet, this growth is not being felt equally throughout the country.[4] There are disparities between region, economic sector, and, most notably – gender.  Strikingly, women make up 58% of the population and account for more than half of the work force.[5] Yet, despite the valuable position of women in Ukraine, many are still lured abroad by lucrative, high-paying jobs in the sex industry.  The underlying reasons are purely economic: a lack of opportunity at home versus the lure of enticing offers of high-paying work in other countries.  With this lure comes the risky business of the sex industry, of which Ukraine has become a hotbed of human trafficking and sexual slavery.  The Ukrainian government has had enough.  Grappling between legalizing the sex industry and toughening its enforcement policies, the government has chosen to both ban the industry and provide access to economic opportunity and services for those who had fallen victim to the trade.

While the sex trafficking industry in Ukraine is still alive and well, the government acknowledges its responsibility to not only prevent sex trafficking but enforce the basic human rights of industry workers.  The roots of human rights violations across the sex industry are linked to poverty and a lack of economic options, devastating health risks without commensurate care, a lack of credit and savings for workers, inadequate housing and security, and conditions leading to a myriad of other violations such as child labor and slavery.  Ukraine understands, however, that in order to tip the economic scales back to its favor, it must gain a competitive advantage over the sex industry by providing viable economic alternatives.  It understands its role as a state to protect women’s rights and further the overarching goal of the right to development.

In cooperation with USAID and several NGOs, the Ukrainian government has created a vast network of women for women support groups and programs geared towards women’s rights, economic opportunity, healthcare, housing, and stabilized security.  The Anti-Trafficking Project (ATP) and the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) project are two model programs focused on free education and training for women.  Both organizations also provide counseling and shelter services for victims of the trade.  The purpose is to train participants in administrative skills, computer technology, and entrepreneurship.  Additionally, the programs provide counseling and support to individuals who have returned from the sex industry and those who are considering entering the trade.  The WEE is currently the country’s strongest program, providing education, training, and support to women, by women.  It is the region’s first ever program of this nature and its success stems from the empowerment of the women who manage and execute the program.[6] The WEE, in conjunction with several banks and lenders, has setup an entrepreneurship program that helps women launch small businesses in Ukraine by providing advisory services as well as micro- and startup loans at accessible rates.  Both ATP and WEE provide access to healthcare and HIV screening and are working to remove the seemingly indelible stigma of the sex industry.  The results of the programs are staggering: of the 200 graduates per month, 30% have created their own businesses (leading to a 35% increase in job openings) and 44% have found full-time employment.[7]

Making a living seems to be the strongest “preventive medicine” against falling victim to trafficking.[8] In a survey conducted involving 939 women in three cities, not one woman who had a job or business mentioned the possibility of seeking employment abroad.[9] Statistics such as this combined with an overall reduction in trafficking crimes show these government programs facilitate the provisioning of human services and prevent human rights violations at their roots.  While it would be premature to say the sex industry is declining in Ukraine, it is certain the number of potential women considering entering the industry has been drastically reduced.  What is more, however, is the initiative the Ukrainian government has taken to implement sharp-focused prevention programs with human rights protections at the forefront.  As the sex industry and the related human trafficking trade permeates borders, it is essential for states to take action to provide its citizens economic opportunity and security at home.  In doing so, as proven by ATP and WEE, states will not only empower women, they will cultivate the progression of the right to development by providing the basic right to health, housing, economic security and education.

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[1] Schamper, John. 2002. “Macro-Economic Analysis—Ukraine.” Kiev, Ukraine: USAID.

March.

[2] Ibid., 33.

[3]http://web.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64133165&pagePK=64133485&piPK=64133503&q=ukraine&theSitePK=239419.  3/22/10.

[4] Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, State Committee of Statistics of Ukraine, UNDP. Promoting Gender Equality Project. 2000. “Gender Statistics for Monitoring the Progress in the Area of Equality Between Women and Men.” Kiev, Ukraine: UNDP.

[5] Ibid., 5.

[6] Winrock International. 2002a. “Women’s Economic Empowerment, Ukraine (WEE).”

http://www.winrock.org/fact/facts.cfm?CC=5194, 3/25/10.

[7] Ibid, 35-7.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid, 40 and A-3

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© 2010, Ryan Argenta. All rights reserved.

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