About war and sex work with Iryna Khmelnytska, Kropyvnytskyi town, Ukraine

WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS ABOUT WAR AND SEX WORK. Almost a year has passed since the last public conversation with our regional representatives. Back then, we talked about the impact of the war on the lives of Ukrainians, the fate of sex workers and sex work in Ukraine. Today, we decided to return to this conversation and to analyse what has changed over time and what remains the same.

We are talking to Iryna Khmelnytska, the leader of the initiative group of sex workers from the CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’ in Kropyvnytskyi town.

Natalia Dorofeeva (ND), CO “Legalife-Ukraine”: Iryna, you are one of the founders of CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’, but we have not talked in an interview format before. We will finally do it and talk about everything - what happened, what is happening now and what we hope for. Let’s start with your personal story.

Iryna Khmelnytska: I was born and have lived in the city of Kropyvnytskyi all my life. My dad is a driver and my mum is a bricklayer, they worked hard, and there was also a little sister at home. I finished the 9th grade and had no more opportunities to study. But I had a dream of studying to become a chef and pastry chef, because I love everything to do with baking.

In my life, I met a man who was 12 years older than me, which did not stop us from falling in love and starting a family. Two years later, we had a daughter, but that family nest did not last long.

There have been many men in my life, but my daughter is my only support and pillar of strength. To raise my daughter, I had to work very hard: at the market, at the gas station, in the store, etc., but there was always not enough money.

Once I was ill, I had a very high temperature, and for some time they could not diagnose what was wrong with me. The next time my family came to visit me, the head doctor called me to his office. The doctor told me that I had HIV. When I heard this ‘verdict’, I wanted to end my life, but I was stopped by the thought of my little daughter and my family, how they would survive the loss.

“THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT I HAD HIV. HEARING SUCH A “SENTENCE”, I WANTED TO END MY LIFE, BUT I WAS STOPPED BY THE THOUGHT OF MY LITTLE DAUGHTER AND MY FAMILY, HOW THEY WOULD SURVIVE THE LOSS.”

A little time passed and I was introduced to the staff of a charity organisation for people living with HIV.  I went to groups where other people affected by this problem met. After a while, I was offered a job as a social worker in this organisation.

It was there that I met the girls with whom we founded CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’. We have been working on a voluntary basis for a long time, striving to protect women and their rights.

ND: Why did you decide to defend rights of sex workers?

Iryna: You know, life is difficult, especially when you are left alone with a small child and no job, and you learn about a terrible diagnosis at the time and realise that you are no longer like everyone else, and you need to survive in this world.

I was in a situation where I didn’t even have anything to eat, and my family was not around. I started to think of different ways to make money.

I found a dating site and started flirting with men. That’s how I started my career in sex industry. I provided services, and men paid money. Several times I got into situations where I was left without money, but it’s good that I survived. These situations made me realise that we need to protect such women.

Many people believe that if a woman is a sex worker, she is no longer a human being and does not deserve human treatment. And no one has ever thought about why she took this path.

‘I THINK IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND JUSTICE IN THIS WORK.’

ND: How did your family react to the fact that you would be defending rights of sex workers?

Iryna: They knew that I was helping HIV-positive people, and then I started to defend women who provide sexual services for money. My family never interfered in my life, they could only tell me what would be best, and the choice was mine.

ND: After many years of working with Legalife, can you share what you like about your job and what is the most difficult part?

Iryna: In my opinion, it is very difficult to find justice in this work. All the time I have to meet with police officers and medical workers. But when the rights of a sex workers are violated, no one cares (like ‘it’s her fault’), such women are still considered ‘second-class’, unfortunately.

That’s why I often have thoughts of quitting, to be honest. There was a time when I had professional burnout, I didn’t have the strength to continue working and quit.

After a little rest and dealing with my feelings, I returned to work. If not me, who will help girls in their time of need? The girls know that they are not alone, that they will not be left alone with their problems. It’s the girls’ gratitude for the help I give them that helps me to stay in place and continue.

And when it gets really hard, I have my own calming agent - the hugs of my little grandson...

Yes, it’s great to have close and beloved people by your side, and in times of war it is especially important...

ND: Let’s get back to our community. Please tell us how your female sex workers are experiencing the war, what changes you see in their lives?

Iryna: Some girls have died, some have been convicted, some have left the country, and those who are left are surviving as best as they can. It has become much harder for girls to support themselves and their children. Many of them say that their earnings have dropped dramatically. Firstly, there are fewer male clients. Secondly, before the war, girls could spend as much time as they wanted on the track and earn money. Now they don’t have that opportunity. Most of the girls come to the city from the districts, so they have to time it to get home in time for the curfew.

In addition, girls are very worried about their safety and lives. That’s why many of them start working online or meet only with regular, trusted clients. Sex work has always been dangerous, but the war has brought new threats. In particular, recently girls have been complaining more often about military clients. They say that they are traumatised by the war and that it is dangerous to spend time with them.

ND: What are the needs of the women who work with you today and how do you help them as the leader of the initiative group?

Iryna: The girls receive humanitarian aid, paralegal consultations, support, etc.

Now, thanks to donors, we are able to provide girls with food packages, hygiene products and many other things to help them survive every month. We give out clothes, warm things and other things - sleeping bags, power banks, electric mats, backpacks, portable gas stoves, thermo cups, USB lamps and more. Girls need this kind of help because their incomes have fallen and it has become difficult to support their families on their own.

I also regularly conduct information sessions, during which we talk about health, violations of rights and how to defend them, and substitution and ARV therapy. Also, the SWs ask for psycho-emotional and psychological support, because the war affects not only their physical condition. From my observations, everyone’s mental health is rapidly deteriorating.

The patrol police also started visiting the girls more often. They are looking for different ways to extort money from them. In such cases, the girls call me. If we can’t solve the issue on our own, we go to the police with the girl to see the police management, and then all issues are quickly resolved.

ND: Do you think they could solve these problems with the police on their own?

Iryna: They are afraid and often don’t know how to protect their rights or how to behave in a given situation. In my presence, they feel more confident, and I think this is the main reason why they cannot solve the problem on their own.

ND: Are there any partner organizations in Kropyvnytskyi that help you solve SWs problems?

Iryna: Yes, over the years we have established cooperation, and we have friendly and very productive relations with the 100% Life Network («Мережа 100% життя»), the Charity Fund "Return to Life" (БФ «Повернення до життя»), the AIDS Centre, the Mother and Child Centre, the drug dispensary, etc.

ND: As an experienced human rights activist, what advice would you give to new activists?

Iryna: Treat people the way you want to be treated.

ND: Finally, share your hopes for the future - what changes do you expect for our SWs?

Iryna: I hope that in the future our government and society will pass a law decriminalising sex work. In this case, everyone will benefit, girls will pay tax, and the police and everyone else will not violate the rights of sex workers.

Interview by Natalia Dorofeeva (Natalia Dorofeeva), CO ‘Legalife-Ukraine’