Trafficking of Women in Eastern Europe |
AWID: How would you describe the situation of trafficking of women in Eastern Europe?
La Strada: During the 1990s, post-soviet countries began facing the problem of trafficking in people. “Dirty work” actors have set up a crime industry which takes advantage of the difficult economic situations, high unemployment levels and weak legal protection systems of young post-soviet states. Under the pretence of offering employment, they invite citizens of post soviet countries to go abroad, where they instead experience exploitation; they keep little of the money they earn, having to turn thousands over to their organizers. “Living goods” are exported to Russia, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Germany, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Greece, Czech Republic, UAE, Israel, the US and other countries. Men are exploited as builders and miners, while women are exploited as house workers, seamstresses and dishwashers. But women also face another form of exploitation – forced sex work, the most “profitable” form of trafficking. The crime of trafficking does not respect national borders, nor does it discriminate between developed and developing countries. It adapts easily in areas of both poverty and luxury, and is a reality in every part of the world. Trafficking in people in Ukraine is characterized by the fact that it remains a largely hidden phenomenon. This latency has in turn made it very difficult to use traditional means of conducting comprehensive inquiries into the problem and of ascertaining the extent of its disastrous effects.
AWID: Could you please tell us about the work of La Strada in combating the trafficking of women?
La Strada: The International Women’s Rights Center “La Strada-Ukraine” begain its activity in 1997. The La Strada Program: Prevention of trafficking in women from Central and Eastern Europe is an international program working in the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Moldova, Bosnia & Herzgovina and Belarus. Our main directions are divided into different areas. Information and lobby campaigns, preventative-educational campaigns, social assistance campaigns, and the La Strada Hotline. The Information and lobby campaigns focus on providing expertise on legislative acts regarding the status of women in Ukraine, conducting round table discussions on the problem and cooperating with national and international government and non-government organisations in Ukraine and abroad to prevent trafficking in persons. Our preventive-educational campaign involves conducting educational activities among youth, training trainers, and publishing information materials and guidelines. The Social assistance campaign organises medical, psychological and legal assistance for trafficking victims and conducting round table discussions with other stakeholders in social services. Finally, the Hotline is a service available for consulting and assisting trafficking victims directly, consulting women who are going to work, study or marry abroad, and for collecting data.
AWID: From your experience, and reflecting on internal factors, why does the trafficking of women remain such a problem in the region?
La Strada: The most serious internal factors are rooted in Ukraine’s poor economic situation, which has resulted for many in the inability to find adequate employment – and a lack of viable alternatives for earning money. The problem is especially significant when it comes to Ukrainian women. The feminization of poverty has led to a situation where women are desperate to find work and may fail to consider the possible negative consequences attached to some offers. Research from other countries has noted that women more readily accept job offers that don’t correspond with their education and professional level than do men. Men in similar situations hesitate more often in making the decision to go abroad for work, and sometimes simply refuse the offer(s). It is also notable that the number of families where the woman is the bread-winner is growing.
The socioeconomic factors which have influenced labour migration abroad from Ukraine are the consequences of chronic stagnation in the economy, economic reform failures, etc. It has had a negative influence on the living standards of Ukraine’s population, employment possibilities, an appropriate level of income, and have widened the gap between social categories and groups. In many regions of Ukraine, wages are paid not on time. The standard of living for those who would normally be regarded, according to international standards, as “middle class” - has fallen greatly.
Migration is quickly taking on a criminal nature as financiers both in Ukraine and abroad reap the benefits of a cheaper labour force from Ukraine. The experts also admit a general tendency in Ukrainian society toward criminalization.
Low living standards and high unemployment levels force Ukrainians to look for work abroad. Even though it is illegal, working in the sex industry is often the only way for Ukrainian women to earn money. According to women who want to go abroad to work, and those who have returned, the low awareness level among Ukrainians concerning legal employment abroad and the possible consequences of illegal migration is a factor in the spread of the trafficking problem in Ukraine.
There is no real working protection system for the trafficked people either in Ukraine or abroad. Thus, the legal factors which act to facilitate trafficking. Ukraine still doesn’t have a law on social protections for Ukrainian citizens abroad. The witness protection system is not yet functioning in practice. For Ukrainian citizens, there are no legal protections from abuses of power by their “superiors,” issues of red tape, or unpaid wages.
AWID: What are the external factors contributing to trafficking?
La Strada: Trafficking in people is also caused by factors such as the globalization of the economy and increasing international migration. And while it’s clear that we will never overcome these global factors, we should nevertheless attempt to study and understand these factors in order to be more effective in anti-trafficking activity.
A network of personal contacts abroad is an important factor stimulating migration. According to a study conducted on Ukraine and Moldova by ILO (2002-2003), most migrants - both those who migrated successfully as well as those who were exploited and/or trafficked - have relatives or close friends abroad. Migration is made easier for those who use their contacts to become informed about possibilities for foreign employment.
At the greatest risk of being trafficked are those who are going abroad to work illegally with the help of mediators who cover their financial expenses (i.e., acquiring a visa, registering a foreign passport, purchasing tickets). These expenses serve as an additional factor to prevent a person from backing out of the trip if and when he/she begins to feel unsafe. Moreover, such prepaid expenses also prevent them from voluntarily giving up the “jobs” they receive at their destination, as they have to pay back their debts.
Other external factors include: increasingly open borders, which allow for increased international travel and job-seeking; the internationalization of the “shadow” economy; increasing networks of international criminal groups; a widening gap between poor and rich countries; tolerant legislation on prostitution in many countries; and corruption of governmental structures.
Very often our citizens don’t know the laws, traditions or language of the country at which they arrive, and they come with a false idea of what life abroad is really like. As a result, they face significant social and psychological problems.
AWID: Trafficking is a problem that cuts across many areas such as transnational crime, legislation, corruption, education and economic opportunity. Where should efforts be focused in order to facilitate a positive outcome for women?
La Strada: Human trafficking is a very real problem in contemporary Ukraine. The most widespread form of trafficking is that of trafficking in women and girls for forced prostitution. International transfers of Ukrainian women usually take place on non-Ukrainian soil. For this reason, combating the evils of trafficking can be effective only with tight cooperation between representatives of governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the international community.
As for the activity of Ukrainian establishments abroad, the experts had some helpful ideas. They consider the normative framework for Embassy activity to be rather sophisticated on paper, but lament that it is rarely carried out in practice. A consul should not refuse to provide assistance due to a lack of finances. It is incorrect to assume that people are out to take advantage of the assistance that embassies can provide. This attitude needs to change. Every embassy should have at least two people who have been given appropriate authority available to assist trafficked people, especially when it comes to bringing citizens back to Ukraine. Ukrainian entities should coordinate their activity with foreign law enforcement bodies when it comes to trafficking-related activity.
It is necessary to establish information centers where citizens can learn about the assistance available to them. Ukrainian establishments abroad should have information materials with contact phone numbers, addresses, and a list of NGOs and international organizations, both in the foreign country and in Ukraine, which provide assistance to trafficked persons. Reaching this goal will only be possible if better cooperation is achieved between diplomatic/consular establishments and NGOs.
La Strada-Ukraine can be contacted at: lastrada@ukrpack.net Website: http://www.lastrada.org.ua
