Consultant Reports > Sex Industry

SEX INDUSTRY

Women in the sex industry the world over are very vulnerable to both HIV and STIs. They are also often regarded as a potential "bridge" for HIV-infection between IDUs and the general population. In Ukraine, many sex workers in the lower income category are also injecting drug users which makes them even more vulnerable to infection and disease. Female sex workers in Ukraine have been divided into three categories:

• High income level - the so called "elite" women, who provide sexual service for rich business, corporate and foreign clients. They work in expensive hotels, bars, saunas; they have access to good quality medical service, use individual means of protection, and are aware of HIV/STIs.
• Middle income level - as a rule, they can be contacted by telephone or are concentrated in certain places on the streets, near hotels, restaurants, bars; they have varying levels of knowledge regarding HIV and STIs but are not always able to negotiate safe sex with their clients.
• Low income level - those who work at the railway stations, on highways and at bus station. The prices for their services are considerably lower; injecting drug abuse is fairly common in this group; levels of knowledge about HIV and STIs is very low among this group.

In addition, many women from Ukraine are trafficked to countries in Europe, the Middle East and further afield. They comprise another group of women that are also at risk of HIV and STI infections apart from the violence and trauma that they suffer.

Under the EC project, a study on trafficking in Ukraine was commissioned in June/July 2002 that looked at the situation in the country, the factors that made women vulnerable to trafficking, some of the routes used, existing services, what attempts were being made in the country to reduce the levels of trafficking and what happens to the women when they return back. Report on Trafficking

The study on the Laws provides a framework for the partners in the obast to consider existing and future services as well the impact these have on HIV preventions activities. Valeriy Pakhomov's Report

In December 2001, The British Council at the request of UNAIDS organised a national level conference of sex worker projects in Ukraine that examined a number of issues including the impact of the new Criminal Code on Prostitution and Trafficking. Conference Report

These reports will provide both the government, NGOs and international agencies information related to the risk of HIV for women involved voluntarily and involuntarily, in the country and abroad, and the strong need to provide support and services to them.

A regional conference of projects working with sex workers in Central, South Eastern and Eastern Europe and Central Asia was also organised by the British Council in January 2002. This provided projects from 23 countries with an opportunity to share their experiences, expertise and knowledge, successes and failures, and to identify common issues that could be addressed regionally. The report is awaited and will be made available through this website.