IMPACT OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION OF SEX WORKERS AND CONDITIONS OF SEX WORK

(This study was conducted by CO "LEGALIFE-UKRAINE" in 2023 with support of SWAN)

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CONVENTIONAL ABBREVIATIONS

SW - Sex worker, sex work

ART - Antiretroviral therapy

HAART - Highly active antiretroviral therapy

HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS virus)

SMT - Substitution Maintenance Therapy

STI - Sexually transmitted infections

PLWD - People living with drug addiction

PLWH - People living with HIV/AIDS

PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

IDP - Internally displaced person

NGO - Non-governmental organization

SRHR - Sexual and reproductive health and rights

GBV - Gender-based violence

LGBTQIA+ - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual and all others

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INTRODUCTION

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and before the war in Ukraine, sex workers (SWs) were disproportionately vulnerable to the risk of violence and sexual and emotional harm, and this harm was linked to the criminalization of sex work. Sex work laws and regulatory policies negatively impact sex workers’ safety, health and access to services. Stigma, associated with sex work, sometimes disparagingly referred to as the stigma of "prostitution" or "prostitutes", is another cause of social inequality for sex workers (based on the results of the study “Detecting barriers to access and assessing the quality of services for sex workers, studying their needs in order to increase the effectiveness of harm reduction, prevention and treatment programs for HIV/AIDS in Ukraine”, 2017-2018, All-Ukrainian charitable organization “LEGALIFE-UKRAINE", Analytical Center "Social Consulting", with the support of AFEW International).

Global pandemic of COVID-19 2020-2021 has caused widespread economic, social and health damage to SWs. Surveys amongst SWs in Ukraine as part of the study on accessibility and quality of services for SWs (August-October 2020, supported by SWAN) confirmed this impact and demonstrated that the majority of SWs are physically and psychologically vulnerable, defenseless, and their well-being directly depends on their work in the field of sex services.

Given the social and economic disadvantage of sex workers, the structural barriers and widespread stigma that prevent their inclusion in society, the impact of the war has been catastrophic for many SWs.

CONTEXT

The Russian Federation’s attack on Ukraine and active hostilities on almost the entire territory of Ukraine have led to catastrophic consequences in the economic and social spheres. The living standards of Ukraine’s citizens have deteriorated dramatically: the war has led to a reduction in jobs and incomes, and a decrease in purchasing power and accumulated assets. In 2022, the national economy of Ukraine has lost 29.2% of real GDP, and 13.5 million people were forced to leave their homes.  The poverty rate in Ukraine increased from 5.5% to 24.2% in 2022, pushing 8 million people below the poverty line (data of a recent World Bank report). With unemployment unofficially at 36% and inflation reaching 26.6% at the end of 2022, more and more Ukrainians may fall below the poverty line in the future. Most problematic in this situation remains the issue of people’s employment. According to the UN, 17.6 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian aid, as a result of the Russian Federation’s aggression. More than a third of Ukrainian residents are now in extremely difficult conditions. According to the Opendatabot monitoring service, since the beginning of the full-scale war, the birth rate in Ukraine has decreased by 28% - an anti-record for all of the years of Ukrainian independence.

Today, active fighting is taking place in the East and South of the country, but rocket attacks by russian troops are being fired throughout Ukraine. Martial law has been declared with corresponding consequences: general mobilization and curfew, a ban on strikes, mass meetings and actions, and the creation of temporary state bodies - military administrations.

Many families had lost their only breadwinners because a significant number of men left their families and volunteered/were mobilized to the Armed Forces of Ukraine/died. A significant number of industrial facilities, small and medium-sized businesses were closed down. People of different categories have been left without jobs, money, or lost their homes and was forced to migrate within the country or go abroad. Women with children were forced to survive in constant stress and fear, taking care of their young children and elderly parents. As a result of shelling in many cities infrastructure facilities, residential buildings, premises of government institutions and NGOs have been destroyed. In cities with the most active hostilities, residents do not have access to water, heat, food, while others may at any time lose access to these resources due to systematic bombardment.

Violence against women is on the rise. Women remain most vulnerable to domestic violence and violence by military aggressors. Forced to flee their towns and homes, women alone and with children are evacuated – this leaves them vulnerable to traffickers and other criminals.

Sex workers of Ukraine go through the same hardship and deprivation, but their burden is multiplied by criminalization, economic and social vulnerability, legal insecurity, stigma and lack of state support. Since the early days of the war:

SWs are exposed to new life and health risks associated with war.

SWs lose their ability to provide a livelihood for themselves and their families, pay for loans, housing and utilities:

SWs’ incomes are declining for a variety of reasons: forced migration, rising prices of basic products and housing, decreased demand and number of clients, restrictions on working hours and changing working conditions (curfews, air raids, limited access to public places/checkpoints, while usual places to find clients and services - clubs, hotels, bars - have changed their opening hours);

Many SWs lost their income completely because they were forced to leave sex work and were unable to find employment;

•  In some regions, SWs are afraid to go out to work because of the increased presence of police, military administrations on the streets, and police raids on flats where SWs work. Due to the imposition of martial law, some SWs are afraid to go out even during the day because many of them do not have documents, even asking their girlfriends or friends to go to the shops for food.
•  Many of the SWs today do not have adequate housing, due to decreasing incomes and rising rent prices. SWs internal migrants become homeless by losing their housing - they cannot continue to pay rent, while social crisis housing is overcrowded.
•  There are no specific state programs to support SWs in Ukraine. At the moment, SWs in Ukraine are able to receive social payments as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on a general basis. But, due to the lack of official employment in peacetime, SWs are unable to issue general government assistance/compensation for war victims. And since recently, due to changes in the procedures for processing social payments, SWs cannot apply for such types of social assistance as additional payments to low-income families and single mothers, because they do not have a certificate of official employment (previously it was enough to provide a certificate from the tax office on income or lack thereof). In addition, such assistance is not provided if there are able-bodied persons in the family who have reached the age of 18, but not working, not doing military service or not studying. A positive change is that persons (including SWs) who were receiving social assistance at the time of the declaration of martial law, but are now in territories of active hostilities or under occupation, during martial law are not required to apply for re-registration of assistance or confirmation of the right to receive it during martial law during and one month after its termination or lifting.
•  War-affected SWs are forced to move from one temporary shelter to another or to other cities/countries where the military situation is safer. Often in the absence of official evacuation, people need assistance with transport/reimbursement of transport costs for relocation, as they do not have their own means.
• Martial law has led to a deterioration in access to HIV/AIDS prevention programs, at the beginning of the war there was a high risk of interruption of HIV and drug treatment for many SWs.
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• That is, since the beginning of the war, SWs have been in a difficult situation: often without work, housing, livelihoods, and in need of support. This war has a painful impact on the psychological and physical health of SWs, which is confirmed by their contacts with psychologists at our SW Hotline, and negatively affects their economic and financial situation, as well as the legal and social status of SWs.

Since sex work in Ukraine is criminalized and not recognized as a type of labor, SWs do not expect assistance from the state, and due to the high level of stigma and discrimination in society, SWs do not have support from civil society either. CO "LEGALIFE-UKRAINE" is the only source of stable support for many SWs in Ukraine.

SUMMARY OF INTERVIEWS WITH SEX WORKERS

Data collection method: 16 in-depth interviews with SWs.

Geography: Vinnitsa - 4 SWs, Dnipro - 4 SWs, Zhytomyr - 4 SWs, Cherkasy - 4 SWs.

Information about respondents:

Gender: female

Age: Women aged 23 to 44 years participated in the study. The average age of respondents was 35 years.

Sex work and migration experience:

5 SWs have experience of forced migration: 3 SWs within Ukraine and 2 SWs to European countries. While in European countries, SWs did not provide sex work.

9 SWs continue to earn money through sex work despite the war. Of these, 1 SW is IDP from Donetsk Oblast (an area of active hostilities), 1 SW temporarily moved to a safer place with her parents in the village but later returned to her town, 1 SW left for Germany after the war started, but returned a year later, and the rest had remained in their hometowns. Of these, 4 SWs have changed the places where they look for clients - they left the street/public places, orders are taken only by phone/internet, 1 SW moved to webcam.

4 SWs started providing sex services due to financial difficulties caused by the war. Of these, 1 SW is an IDP from Donetsk oblast (an area of active hostilities), 3 SWs work in their hometowns.

3 SWs were forced to leave sex work due to the risks and conditions of war. Of these, 1 SW travelled to Poland for 9 months but returned to her city, the rest live in their own cities.

Relation to vulnerable groups:

6 SWs do not belong to any other vulnerable group;

5 SWs are HIV+, of which 4 SWs belong to cross groups PLWD, SMT and/or former prisoners;

3 SWs are PLWD;

1 SW is SMT client;

1 SW is a former prisoner.

GENERAL LIVING CONDITIONS OF SEX WORKERS DURING THE WAR

During the first months of the war, the way of life changed for all of the researched participants. Most of the respondents recall how at first they did not understand what was happening, how such a thing could happen in our times, but after the first “bombings” and news of destruction and dead civilians, they realized that a real war had begun, and it was very dangerous for everyone’s life.

Most of SWs said that during first weeks of the war they reacted very keenly to the air raid alarms. There was panic and nervousness in families, women spent sleepless days and nights crying and worrying. Some had to part with loved ones and husbands/partners who had joined the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine). Many spent most of their time in bomb shelters. At the same time, people had to run around in search of food, water, medicines and other priority resources, as many retail outlets were closed. Shelves in shops were empty, there were problems with bread, salt, etc., this led to fear of impending famine and frenzy, etc.

Five of the SWs interviewed at that time made a decision on forced relocation, 2 SWs together with their families and children crossed the border to Europe and stayed there for almost a year, the rest moved to safer regions in Ukraine. Three SWs were forced to leave sex work due to fear for their lives and the lives of their children, new risks and dangers in their homes and sex work, and being left with no means of livelihood. Others (4 SWs), on the contrary, due to financial problems, made an unusual, morally difficult decision for them - to earn money through sex services. 

Over time, all of them more or less got used to the circumstances, accepted the necessity to live and survive in this reality, to adjust to it: to look for a job, new housing, and support. However the majority of SWs were saying that they experienced constant nervous tension, fear for themselves and especially for their children, many of them experienced depression, apathy, they lived one day at a time, thinking that it is useless to make plans for the future. In the process of conducting interviews, there were cases when respondents cried, which confirms their difficult moral state:

“From the first month depression began. The war affected both our health and finances. Not only for me personally, but also for my family: I have a grandmother, a mother, a child, and I am responsible for everyone (cries). I didn’t wanted to go to work due to my difficult psychological state. It was very scary. I didn’t wanted to do anything. I was in a depressed state.”

However, more than once during interviews, respondents said that in their souls there is still faith in victory and hope for the best.

Relationships in families and relationships with friends were developing differently - some said that relationships have become stronger and they felt support and care from loved ones more than before the war:

“This have changed for the better {relationships in the family}. We become more friendly and united. We get together and solve any problems together; this never happened before the war».

But more often this was the other way round - relations with loved ones have become colder, fatigue was felt, and so irritation from financial problems:

“Before the war everyone at home somehow communicated normally, it seemed somehow calm. But now the financial part has really started to irritate us all, especially when you have two children. Everyone was nervous, and this was very difficult morally".

There were more quarrels in families, which affected children negatively.

Today there are problems with men (family members of SWs) who are returning from the war. Often they cannot adapt to peaceful life, they cannot find a job, or establish a family life. Those who returned from the war often complain about problems with their psyche and sleep, which is why they begin to use alcohol:

"My husband is veteran of the war, he has been fighting since 2014, he has not recovered yet. I feel sorry for him and do not force him to go to work. He does not want to go to a psychologist - he said to me "I am not sick".

One of the SWs said that women around her are already turning to psychologists to prepare for their husbands’ return from the front, fearing the consequences of PTSD:

"This war affects everyone. There are fewer men around. Many of them are disabled. Women already are going to psychologists and preparing for the fact that men will return not the same as they were."

11 out of 16 SWs were not physically harmed. One SW’s father was severely injured and had to return to Ukraine from Germany. Two had a relative/partner killed. Two more women complained of deteriorating health and limited treatment options:

"I don’t feel well. Before the war I had a female operation, cancer, they removed my female organs. And when the war started, I was not able to recover properly. That is, I couldn’t go to the doctor or have a check-up".

"... out of nerves I started to have skin problems, blisters, I gained weight..., I have problems in women’s matters too. This all arose out of nervousness. It’s less so now. In the beginning, of course, it was very scary. Every sound made me shake, from below and all over my body, (CRYING)... because of this I didn’t even want to go to work] ..I didn’t want to do anything, I am depressed. I didn’t contacted psychologist. Somehow, I more or less came out of this state for now. ..but I’m not ready for a psychologist.”

MIGRATION OF SEX WORKERS

Five of the SWs interviewed made decision to move away at the beginning of the war, 2 SWs crossed the border into Europe with their families and children and stayed there for almost a year, and the rest moved to safer regions in Ukraine.

SWs who travelled to Europe fearing the risks did not provide sex work in a foreign country and lived receiving assistance in Poland and Germany from state authorities, volunteers, and NGOs. Now they have returned back to Ukraine - one after a year due to her father being wounded at the front, the other after 9 months due to her child’s illness. After returning to Ukraine, one of them returned to sex work.

All women faced similar challenges during the relocation process. The experience was particularly traumatic for SWs who travelled abroad.  One respondent travelled to Germany with her four children and a cat; another, with her elderly mother, son, daughter and two-month-old granddaughter, travelled to Poland. The journey for both was difficult, both mentally and physically, for all adults and children. They have been experiencing lack of finances, long travelling time, difficult inhuman conditions in overcrowded train/cars, limited amount of food, water, medicines, and overnight stays at train stations.

SW 1: "We left our home in a state of shock, I don’t remember half of it. I only remember a lot of people, a lot of suffering all around.... We travelled on a train, in a common carriage full of people, dogs, cats, all in difficult conditions".

SW 2: "We knew nothing at all, no language, no terrain, no people. We were travelling to nowhere. We lived in schools, in camps near railway stations, slept with children on the street. The children got sick during the move. ...we travelled for almost a week.”

One of the women said that she was very grateful to the people who travelled with her for their moral support: 

"... a lot of people did helped us morally. We were driving in a Zhiguli car (very old model), it’s a small car, but there were a lot of us: the driver, a grandmother, some other woman, me, four children, cats, all in one car. The smaller child has a fever because the teeth were cutting. The older daughter also has a fever, ...and I had a nervous breakdown, I was going crazy because I couldn’t help them with anything (cries)".

SWs were able to receive material assistance at the border and at the place of arrival, first from volunteers, then from local authorities.

While outside of Ukraine, SWs did not provide sex services for fear of losing their status and financial benefits for refugees, and sometimes tried to earn extra money. Among the main difficulties they encountered in Europe were the foreign language, difficulties in learning it, and a different culture/"mentality". These feelings of being aliens, lack of independence, etc. evoked a strong desire to return home, where everything is familiar and native, especially after news started to appear that the AFU had moved the frontline away and home became a little safer.

Women migrating within the borders of Ukraine have also faced financial problems, lack of housing and employment, and lack of support. They have to solve these problems mostly on their own; assistance as an IDP from the state was insufficient for survival, and only one of them was able to obtain IDP status. In order to survive in this situation, women provided sex services. One of them had no experience in this area before the war, but was forced to go into sex work due to lack of other work.

HOUSING: CONDITIONS AND ACCESS FOR SEX WORKERS

11 SWs said that due to lower incomes and higher prices, it has become more difficult to pay for utilities, but in general, this war has not affected their access to housing: they either had their own apartment/home or, as before the war, they continued to rent from the same landlords or lived with relatives. However, 2 of them had unsatisfactory living conditions: they refused to pay for gas because this was expensive, and this was not always possible to pay for firewood: "...firewood was expensive, so we went to the forest for dead wood".

Other SWs complained about the sharp deterioration of living conditions. Rental prices have increased, in some regions 3-5 times. In addition, landlords did not wanted to take women with children. Therefore, SWs had to rent a room in with a landlady (it is cheaper), or move in with friends and relatives to pay rent and utility bills together. This was difficult to live in such cramped conditions. In most cases, SWs did not received any help and support, they managed problems on their own - they just tried to earn more money:

"...now we live with my mum, we used to rent a flat, now it became very expensive, we moved in with my mum, we have been living together for 3 generations".

"When we moved to the village, 7 people lived in one room. Without normal conditions, as guests, without work and money...I couldn’t stand it. I came back to the city and went back to sex work."

"I lived with my husband and children in one room, my brother and his girlfriend in another room. It can be difficult - two housewives in one kitchen. My brother wants to rest after work, and I have small children, they make noise. We can’t live separately yet, it’s expensive, and the landlords don’t want to take me with children to another flat."

"...I rent a room from a family. Now I have to move again and I don’t know where to go. The owner doesn’t like that I have a small child, and he makes noise. Other landlords don’t want to rent a room to a woman with a child either.”

SEX WORKERS’ ECONOMIC SITUATION: INCOME, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

Of the 16 respondents, only 1 SW said that her situation had improved, and this was directly related to the war: prices for sex services increased, and there were more military men among clients. Her income increased, especially in the first year of the invasion (after the start of the full-scale invasion, all military personnel began to receive additional payments, but after a while only those who were on the frontline began to receive additional payments):

“Income has increased due to the military, they give gifts me, they are buying food for my home, they can just give money - it all depends on who you meet. We are even friends with some of them. Now my income has dropped a little because additional payments have been removed for them, but still I’m not complaining.”

The situation of the other 15 SWs is completely opposite. The economic situation deteriorated for all of them, regardless of whether they quit sex work or continue to provide sex work, or were forced to start sex work. All of them said that no matter how hard they try to work more, save money, etc., they cannot provide the necessary minimum for their families, even for food:

"...if before the war prices for food were the same, after the start of the war they get higher ... You are rarely see normal meat now, mostly chicken and chicken backs. In short, it’s a stretch, and the child needs to be fed, I have a teenager, he is always hungry".

The main financial problems faced by SWs are: repaying loans, debts, paying rent and/or utilities, paying for treatment/medication:

"...loans, debts, utilities, which I don’t pay now, but I realized that this war will end and I will have to pay. Banks call, demand debts, they sell them to collectors. I explain to them that I don’t work, I quit my job a year ago, but they don’t care, they demand and demand. They threat me with court taking. In general, it has become much worse.”

It is especially hard for SWs who have lost support of their partners (they have died, divorced, lost their job) and those who have children/grandchildren and/or elderly parents to support:

 "I try, but it’s hard, I often end up in debt. It is especially difficult with medicines, because I have 4 children from 2 to 7 years old. When they get sick, they all get sick together..."

The average income level in most SWs families has fallen by 25-50%. In addition, there are job cuts, inflation, and prices for food, medicine, housing, and price for services is rising every day. 

As before the war, the welfare of most SWs is directly dependent on their work in sex work sphere. Regarding additional income, only one SW reported that she received training and started working part-time as a manicurist. Three other SWs had received a child support from the state, and 1 SW receives payments as IDP. SWs who were forced to leave sex work due to increased threats, risks, decreased number of clients, etc., were unable to find employment. One of them works from time to time as a salesperson for a minimum wage, the rest survive thanks to charitable/humanitarian aid. Additionally some of them are receiving help from relatives (1 SW), some receive pension (1 SW) and some of them even try to grow vegetables in their own vegetable garden:

"I left sex work, but there are no part-time jobs - there is no money, we are surviving now. I can’t even grow vegetables in my vegetable garden now, because after the Kakhovskaya HPP was blown up, I was fined for watering.”

Also, SWs were complaining that they cannot apply for state assistance (for large families, low-income people, etc.) because they themselves are not officially employed (or family members over 18 are not working or studying) or the income of family members exceeds the required minimum:

"...I can’t get a single mother status unless I am officially employed",

"I am a single mother, but the state refused to help me, they told me that my income exceeds by 50 UAH the required minimum".

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF SEX WORKERS WHO ENTERED SEX WORK DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE WAR

The study involved interviews with 4 SWs who came to sex work due to the war and its consequences. One of the women had already experienced sex work in the past, before she got married. While married, she did not work, was engaged in child rearing, and the family was fully provided for by her husband. However, after the outbreak of war, the family broke up. Having incomplete secondary education, she was unable to find a well-paid job and was forced to return to sex work.

The remaining 3 SWs worked in trade before the war: as salesmen, consultants.  They left the trade for various reasons: downsizing, low wages, forced relocation to a safer place, family circumstances (small children). Given the reduction of offers on the job market in Ukraine, they could not find a "decent" job:

"I couldn’t find a job for my specialty, I was trained as a barista, but I couldn’t find one either"

Therefore women were forced by circumstances to go into sex work. Although they said they could not earn much in sex work either: there is a lot of competition in the market, they do not have their own client base, and it is difficult to find new clients. Clients also have financial problems - it is difficult to negotiate prices, working hours have been reduced (it has become more difficult to work at night due to curfews and frequent air raids). Incomes in their families have fallen, even the bare minimum is not always enough, and they have to seek additional support in the form of humanitarian aid.

Among the advantages of sex work, women had mentioned following: part-time work and flexible schedules, "which you set for yourself", more time to spend with your children:

"...I can’t call it easy money. But I have more free time, not like, for example, in a shop where I worked for 14 hours".

All female respondents chose individual work; clients are sought on the street (1 SW), through dating sites/chats (2 SWs), using a database of old, trusted clients (1 SW); services are provided on the client’s premises - in a hotel/apartment.

Women were very worried about the risks involved by sex work, saying that they do not feel safe, fear violence because they work on clients’ premises, and are concerned about women’s physical health and STI risks.

Having little experience in sex work, all women use the simplest means to reduce health risks: condoms, avoiding risky practices (one woman shared that she sometimes agrees to "something special" but for a higher fee). 

Regarding the risks of violence, SWs first of all assess the client’s adequacy during negotiations, his behavior, speech, etc., and if there are suspicions, they refuse to work with him. One of the SWs involves relatives to reduce risks: "I tell my relatives the number of the car, where I am going, with whom and when I plan to return".

Also, one of the SWs has a teargas spray, another woman said she was going to buy one.

All women complained that the choice of sex work was forced and mentally difficult for them, that they lack education and/or experience for another field. They do not like sex work, do not feel safe, and would leave sex work immediately if a job with the same income and schedule would be available. They all hope that this is a temporary solution.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND LABOUR CONDITIONS OF SEX WORKERS WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SEX WORK IN TIMES OF THE WAR

9 SWs continue to provide sex services under war conditions. Of these: 1 SW is an IDP from Donetsk Oblast (an area of active hostilities), 1 SW temporarily moved to a safer place with her parents in the village but later returned to the city, 1 SW went to Germany after the start of the war, but returned a year later, and the rest remain in their hometowns.

Of these: 4 SWs have changed the places where they look for clients - left the street/public places, they take orders only by phone/internet, they say they work more often with verified clients and feel safer that way:

 “... I changed places where I was looking for clients – I am no longer standing on the highway. My clients are friends of friends, and orders are by phone.”

1 SW moved to work in webcam. This woman said that before the war she worked in a flat in a group with several girls. After the war started, she started having health problems, which affected her perception of herself as a woman, complexes appeared and it became impossible to work:

"Everything was fine, but then on psychological grounds I stopped loving myself. I got blisters on my body due to nerves, I felt rejection of myself, no desire to work, complexes, I gained weight (she cries)... As I felt better a little - I went to webcam.”

 After she started working online, SW felt better, safer and had free time to look after her elderly relatives. Despite the fact that there were fewer clients and earnings have dropped - SW is not thinking of going back to her old practices:

"I went online, it’s safer, it’s on my own territory, it’s quiet, of course there are fewer clients, my earnings have halved, but I can look after my mum and grandmother".

As for the risks of working online and possible problems with the law - the woman did not knew and did not thought about it before this interview (after the interview we counselled the SW about possible risks and means to reduce them, as well as provided her with the contacts of our lawyer and psychologist).

Almost all SWs were complaining about worsening financial situation. Despite the fact that most have raised prices for services, the average income has fallen. This is due to reduced working hours, fewer clients, and increased costs. Recently, curfews in the regions have been reduced, the number of patrols has decreased slightly and work has become easier, but this does not change the overall situation. Many also were speaking of high competition among SWs due to the influx of female IDPs:

"There is less work, less money, more risks, and it’s scary to go to work".

"Sometimes senior SWs have scandals, squabbles with newcomers..., there are many refugee women, but the seniors threaten them, so they change places or borrow clients from us..."

All SWs work individually (even those who used to work in a group) to avoid problems with other SWs (competition), and especially with the police for fear of possible pimping/pandering charges.

Women live and work with a constant sense of fear for their lives due to shelling. They fear violence, they feel vulnerable and defenseless, they do not count on outside help and support, especially from law enforcement agencies.

Opinions on the changes in clients’ behavior are divided. Some say that nothing has changed and clients are the same as they were - different, and everyone has different relationships with them. Some SWs believe that clients, especially military personnel, have become more friendly to sex workers, generous and sympathetic - many SWs have friendly relations with clients who often even provide financial assistance to their families; there are also known cases of marriages between SWs and military personnel. On the other hand, there are SWs who complained that they are meeting inadequate clients with traumatized psyche, including military personnel, and this is more common situation for now.

"The customers are the same as they were, but friendlier. The military are the best clients, understanding, pay well. Sometimes even without sex..."

"Guys are more loyal now, they try not to scare. They appreciate people because of the war."

"...a client, a former military man, rented me for the night, we went to his place, he got drunk, started yelling that he wouldn’t pay me. He was a military. I ran away as best as I could, half-naked. After such a thing, I decided to meet up only with trusted clients, or through acquaintance".

In order to reduce risks, by now SWs are working more often on their own/proven territory and appoint the place of meeting themselves (their own apartment, trusted cafes/hotels/saunas). Most SWs said that they have become more careful in choosing clients - they do not take orders from drunk, drugged, suspicious people, they negotiate details and prices in advance, and try not to use alcohol/drugs with clients at work.If a woman works alone, she always carries a teargas spray.

"The clients are checked, the guys themselves warn that they are concussed and may snap. I don’t go with drunks, I warn them not to drink, I discuss conditions with clients. I don’t work at night for my own safety.”

All SWs claim to have regular medical check-ups with a gynecologist and use condoms; they do not agree to sex without a condom, even though it is more expensive.

SWs have not changed their sexual practices, but they say that "unusual orders" (anal sex, group sex, BDSM, etc.) have become more frequent, especially from the military. In such cases, SWs refer the clients to those SWs who practice the relevant types of services:

"It feels that they live like the last day, it is understandable - they know that tomorrow anyone can be killed".

"...preferences have expanded - they living like it’s the last time because they expect to die in the war. I send them to those who practice such things".

When asked whether they like sex work, 3 SWs could not answer; 2 SWs said that they are forced to do it, but they do not like the work: 

"It’s not my thing, I don’t like this job, I feel lousy because I have to do it, I overstep myself".

4 SWs, despite the risks and difficult conditions, are sure that they like this job. Compared to other spheres the advantage is personal freedom, work schedule, socializing with people, free time for family and friends, as well as earnings:

"Yes, the income is not comparable to a simple job for seven thousand UAH (apr $200), which you can’t live on. I am my own boss at the moment, my schedule is free. When I have great clients, I relax with them, we are communicating as friends. They are helping me financially and psychologically.”

Among the disadvantages of their work, they mentioned its non-legal status, lack of legal protection, stigmatization, limited access to medical and social services. Women would like to see changes in the law (decriminalization) and in the public perception of sex work, then, in their opinion, they would feel more confident and safe. They would be able to exercise their rights fully along with other citizens, receiving assistance from the state, and take care of their health.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND LABOUR CONDITIONS OF SEX WORKERS WHO LEFT SEX WORK DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE WAR

3 SWs left sex work. Their withdrawal from the sphere was related to the war, with all women fearing for their life, safety and mental health of themselves and their children.

Before the war, SWs worked individually, looking for clients on the street, more often in the evening and at night. When rocket attacks, frequent air raids, curfews, etc. began, the work became more dangerous and difficult.  

One of SWs decided to leave Ukraine with her children (her son, daughter and granddaughter) to Poland, where they lived with the help of the authorities and NGOs, and did not engage in sex work. After 9 months, this family was forced to return to Ukraine due to the illness of the youngest child. After returning to Ukraine, SW did not went back to sex work, afraid to leave the child at home alone:

 “We need more time with the child, because it has become dangerous. Military training ground is nearby our home, so they are carrying out sapper work there, there is anxiety, explosions and my child is very afraid, I am nervous...” 

From time to time she has opportunities to work as a market seller, but it is not very often and does not bring much income. Also, her daughter receives a child allowance, which adds to their family budget.

The women’s decision to leave sex work also was influenced by a decrease in the number of clients, and in decrease in clients’ ability to pay, which led to a decrease in all SWs’ earnings.

The financial situation is difficult for all of them. None of them could find another permanent job. One woman receives a pension, tries to grow vegetables in her garden, and sometimes earns money by being hired to work on their neighbors’ plots. Another one lives with an unemployed partner on help from relatives and charity.

As for returning to sex work, opinions were divided: 1 SW is ready to return after the end of the war, 1 SW says that if she does not find another job she will be forced to return, 1 SW is sure that under no circumstances she will not go back into this field of work.

VIOLATION OF SEX WORKERS’ HUMAN RIGHTS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

After the start of this war in some regions, according to SWs, they either did not encounter police at all, or began to encounter them less often.

In other regions there are more police/national guardsmen for now and SWs constantly interact with them. Usually this happens according to the "rules" established before the war, which SWs are used to and agree with: police officers approach SWs’ acquaintances and either ask them to sign protocols or collect a "tribute" of 100-200 UAH for the opportunity to work. SWs say that in such cases they do not conflict with the police, agree to such conditions and work calmly.

Also, some SWs noticed that the new "young" police officers do not engage in extortion, but can simply come up to chat, ask why women are in sex work, even invite them for coffee sometimes.

“Most of them know us, they bill us: 100-200 UAH during the day for the gasoline they spent. We do not conflict with them; we use the protocol as a check, as proof that we paid today. But now, there are more of them: guardsmen or security guards drive up, we tell them that we have already paid others today, we show them the receipt (protocols)... These protocols do not appear anywhere later.”

“Young people often don’t take money on principle, they can invite us for coffee, they can communicate like a human beings. But the old ones don’t - usually they start to “educate” us.”

One SW told about a “test purchase” incident that happened during the war:

"A friend called me, I drove up, fake clients came, police officers drew up an administrative report, I didn’t ask for help, I paid the fine - it was easier that way".

Respondents did not report any other cases of abuse of authority or violence against SWs by police/military officers.

SEX WORKERS’ ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES

Most of the interviewees (12 SWs) had need or requested general health care during last year.  2 SWs said that nothing had changed since the war and they had no problems accessing services.

In other cases, all faced some difficulties. SWs often complain about the lack of specialists, growing queues to see doctors, and disruptions in appointment schedules due to air raids. The migration of SWs also complicates access, as it can be difficult to find a new family doctor, subspecialists, especially in towns that received a large number of migrants or in small settlements/villages. Because of these problems, SWs have to turn to private clinics, whose services are much more expensive and not available to everyone today. Disruptions in the work of health facilities, lack of specialists and migration of SWs become the main barriers to treatment and examination:

"Before the war I had a female operation, my female organs were removed. When the war started, I was not able to recover properly. We moved to the village, then back to the city.... So, I could not go to the doctor or have a proper check-up.”

2 SWs had no possibility receive the package of services due to lack of documents: passport and/or declaration with a family doctor. 2 SWs from cross-groups SMT, PLWH, PLHIV, faced rude attitudes and discrimination:

“When the family doctor and nurse found out about my status, their attitude towards me changed, it became stigmatizing, I argued with them. Then I changed doctors, after that there were no problems.”

Half of the respondents told about systematic visits to friendly gynecologists - both state and private - where they receive necessary consultations, undergo STI examinations, etc.

In terms of HIV prevention and harm reduction, all SWs claim that they receive services regularly and without problems. However, 1 SW said that after the start of the war, as a patient of SMT, her dosage of the drug was forcibly reduced by half, explaining this by the war, the increase in the number of patients and the shortage of drugs. This situation has not changed over time, the dosage has not been increased, and this woman complains of feeling unwell. She has not asked for help because she is afraid that the doctors may transfer her to daily dosage as a "punishment".

SEX WORKERS’ NEEDS AND SUPPORT

All respondents received humanitarian assistance from CO “LEGALIFE-UKRAINE”. In addition, 5 SWs also received assistance from other NGOs and international UN organizations. There were no difficulties with these types of support, and SWs are fully satisfied with the assistance received.

4 SWs received child allowances from the state, 2 SWs were able to receive payments for all working citizens of Ukraine, 1 SW received payments for IDPs. Another 3 SWs tried to apply for assistance as low-income persons, single mothers, but were refused due to the lack of a certificate of official employment or because they exceeded the required minimum income:

 "...I can’t get single mother status as long as I don’t work officially",

"As a low-income person, I wanted to apply, but was refused because I do not have a certificate of employment and income".

"I am a single mother, but the state refused to help me, they told me that my income exceeds by 50 UAH the required minimum".

3 SWs did not apply for assistance because they were not sufficiently informed or did not have relevant documents.

Among the main needs of SWs, material assistance was and remains in first place: money, housing, food, medicines, clothes, etc. The second place is given to psychological support and psychological counselling.

In second place is psychological support and the fulfilment of the universal dream of ending the war, everyone is mentally exhausted, everyone wants peace of mind, a return to the past, albeit relative, but stability.

The most difficult trials for SWs during the war were: death of loved ones and/or separation from loved ones; loss of housing, moving to a foreign country/city; fear for themselves and their loved ones, panic, the unknown, collapse of all plans; helplessness, unemployment; surviving the winter without light and heat; deciding to engage in sex work for those who had not done so before.

Talking about possible changes to existing support schemes, SWs spoke about the need to change laws and decriminalization of sex work, which would allow them to obtain labor status and access to available types and forms of state assistance and social protection. Also, SWs spoke about insufficient information of citizens about their rights/services, about the process of their registration, about reduction of corruption and bureaucracy and simplification of the process of registration of any types of state support. SWs who are raising children, mothers with many children and single mothers would like to see more support for children during the war, and to extend it to all citizens of Ukraine, not only to those who work, because those who do not work need more support. The issue of housing remains acute; there is not enough social housing, there are no benefits for purchasing/renting housing, subsidies are not paid to everyone, and this is a heavy burden on all SWs.

RECOMMENDATIONS

When designing programs and services for SWs, additional consideration should be given to the new conditions and risks caused by war. The main problems faced by representatives of the SW community in the war conditions are:

- Lack of priority resources for survival (lack of temporary housing, shortage of food, water, medicines, hygiene products, warm clothes);

- Limited access to timely and qualified medical, psychological and legal assistance;

- Limited access to information about services and support;

- Loss of employment, critical reduction in income;

- Forced migration.

Meeting the needs of SWs for necessary resources and services

Recommendations to self-organizations and NGOs that work with SWs

Introduce/expand the list and scope of services to ensure the survival of SWs, namely to meet their humanitarian needs and improve the emotional and psychological state of SWs.

Organize effective redirection of SWs for receiving by them the necessary services in a professional manner. It is necessary to establish cooperation with state structures designed to provide certain services to vulnerable categories of the population (medical institutions, crisis centers for women, social services, pension funds, employment centers, police, etc.) and to work with the staff of these institutions to overcome stigma and discrimination against SWs.

Inform SWs about the existing opportunities for services, existing state social protection and insurance programs, available services counteracting gender-based violence. SWs should be provided with comprehensive, clear, reliable information in an understandable form and through accessible sources on the types of services, opportunities and places to receive these services, including explanation of practical procedures, norms and rights to receive them.

Provide information on opportunities for document restoration, IDP status and payments, additional sources of income and money management.

Recommendations to governments

Strengthen awareness and access to information about services and support available services in countries. Provide clear, consistent and reliable information on available services and support, as well as information on temporary protection and asylum status for third-country nationals.

Provide staff training, in particular with agencies providing support to nationals on the ground to reduce stigma and discrimination.

Recommendations to humanitarian organizations and governments

Ensure that SWs in Ukraine have access to temporary shelters/housing. And that they are safe, easily accessible, open to all.

Develop or support strategies to provide safe, decent, long-term housing in all host countries for IDPs and refugees.

Ensure that SWs have access to necessary health care

Recommendations to NGOs, self-organizations and governments

Focus on building a tolerant attitude towards SWs on the part of health care providers, provide training for doctors of different specialties (infectious disease specialists, dermatovenerologists, family physicians) and nursing staff on the specifics of this target group, including their risks and specifics of working with SWs.

Develop algorithms to provide counselling on various issues to SW patients, taking into account the psychological and behavioral characteristics of this target group.

Continue to implement projects that provide social support for SWs in medical institutions, and establish partnerships with specific medical institutions to ensure a friendly attitude towards clients on the part of medical staff.

Intensify awareness raising and outreach work on the possibility of access to a range of medical and social services for SWs and their immediate environment.

Joint advocacy for decriminalization of sex work

Recommendations to self-organizations and human rights organizations

An important area of work remains decriminalization of sex work in Ukraine through advocacy for changes to Ukrainian legislation. Such initiatives will eliminate significant obstacles to the protection of sex workers’ rights and increase the effectiveness of measures to counter violence, human trafficking, and the involvement of minors in prostitution.

Women’s rights and a gender perspective in response to war

Recommendations to NGOs, donors and self-organizations

Conduct research and analysis in collaboration in different regions of Ukraine to determine the impact of war on social and legal protection and barriers to SWs’ access to vital resources and protection services. This analysis should demonstrate that representatives of sex workers, PLHIV,PLWD, LGBTQIA+, etc., are the most discriminated against and vulnerable groups, and they suffer the most from the current crisis and are at greater risk during times of war.

Build long-term partnerships with SWs, PLWD, PLHIV, LGBTQIA+ self-organizations and work with these groups to ensure that program interventions meet the needs of the most marginalized groups. Support and fund self-organizations, their organizational development, community mobilization and advocacy. Support and fund projects that address humanitarian needs. Advocate for and improve services for communities, including services against Gender-based violence and NWRP (Sexual and reproductive health and rights).

Develop and implement response programs. Ensure that communities are included in data collection, needs assessments and the process of designing, implementing and monitoring response programs.

Analyse and address SWs security risks associated with response programs. This should include integrating measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, including accessible and understandable complaint and feedback mechanisms, and expanding existing safe spaces for SWs.

Inform SWs who have been affected by war and are refugees or IDPs on how and where to seek asylum, protection of rights, and access to support programs in Ukraine and other countries.

Recommendations to governments

Conduct community consultations to ensure that key groups can participate in decision-making. Support political participation and leadership of marginalized groups to ensure their access to legislative and executive decisions. Implement public policies that promote equal access to human rights for sex worker communities, PLHIV, PLWD, LGBTIQ and third-country nationals.

Education and employment

Recommendations to politicians and governments

Fund and launch employment programs for SWs, SW IDPs, SW refugees, especially for vulnerable groups such as women PLHIV,PLWD, former prisoners, LGBTIQ:

- Training programs, retraining programs for new professional skills in demand in the labor market.

- Employment opportunities through private and public partnerships with employment agencies.

- Language training and opportunities to facilitate integration, including procedures to recognise existing levels of education/skills.

Quality funding and meaningful partnerships

Recommendations to humanitarian actors and donors

Establish partnerships with national and local organizations in the communities of SWs, PLHIV,PLWD, LGBTIQ etc. to ensure enhanced protection, safety and dignity for vulnerable groups, including those fleeing the war in Ukraine. The meaningful participation of groups in all decision-making processes, including planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of the humanitarian response cycle, must be promoted. This includes ensuring access to international negotiations and coordination mechanisms.

Engage with the media to amplify the local opinions and experiences of communities, amplifying their voices.

Ensure that innovative and flexible funding mechanisms are more accessible to local NGOs, including community self-organizations and those responding to the crisis in Ukraine:

- Implementation of multi-year, flexible funding that can include core and overhead costs.

- Reducing the bureaucratic and administrative burden of funding applications (reduce amount of documentation required, simplify reporting systems, focus on quality indicators).