Sex Trafficking in Ukraine

[delphyne]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

"Warning on human trafficking for Ukraine - Daily Mail
Last updated at 14:50pm on 6th September 2006

Ukrainian officials have warned that human trafficking threatens to become a major problem for the ex-Soviet republic, and appealed for more international efforts to stop it.

Activists attending a major conference by the International Council of Women say official statistics on human trafficking in Ukraine - and elsewhere - belie the true scope of the problem.

"Ukraine is one of world supplier of slaves. Official statistics do not show real figures for us," said Alina Komarova, deputy head of the National Council Of Ukraine's Women.

"The sale of young girls and women, sex and economic slavery are part of an international criminal business that has taken root in Ukraine," Yuriy Pavlenko, head of a state council to combat human trafficking, told the 31st session of the council's General Assembly.

"It spreads fast ... It demands joint efforts and active cooperation from all governments and societies," he said.

About 300 activists from 22 countries came to Ukraine for assembly of the council, a group that works to prevent discrimination and violence against women.

Ukraine remains a primary source for men, women and children trafficked to Europe, the Middle East and Russia for sexual exploitation and forced labour, officials say. Low salaries and unemployment force thousands of Ukrainians to seek employment abroad, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation, they say.

The International Organisation for Migration says it has provided assistance to more than 2,700 Ukrainians who were victims of trafficking since 2000, but estimates that number is only a small portion of the victims.

Pavlenko praised Ukraine's government for launching new initiatives to combat trafficking, including forming a special law enforcement division.

"It is a problem for all countries, but especially for all former Soviet republics. Often our women go to other countries not knowing what they will face there," said Elena Bashun, a member of the Union of Russian Women."

[elecn]

Check out a film that almost moves like a documentary called ''Lilja 4-ever'' about forced slavery in Russia and Sweden.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0300140/

There's also ''Human Trafficking'' starring Mira Sorvino released in '05.