INTERNATIONAL SEX WORKER DAY 2 JUNE 2023/UNITED FRONT OF SEX WORKERS OF UKRAINE

Every year on June 2, the international sex worker community celebrates International Sex Workers Day. This year its main theme is defined as "access to justice", namely ensuring rights and justice for all of sex workers.

For more than 10 years now, CO "Legalife-Ukraine"" joins celebration of this day and use this as a reminder to society and authorities that sex work in Ukraine is still criminalized, and this leaves sex workers defenseless in many areas of life: social, economic , human rights, etc. Sex workers of Ukraine are vulnerable to violence, rights violations, poverty, and this has become especially visible in the recent difficult times of war and COVID-19.

Usually, on this important day we held public actions/events, invited media representatives to press conferences, and gathered discussion clubs.  We doing this to highlight public right of sex workers to protection and self-determination, to highlight the achievements of sex worker-led organizations around the world, and re-open to the public why sex work is not a crime and why we are not victims. We explain why there should be a complete decriminalization of sex work in Ukraine.

But 2022-2023 years has changed our lives, our community’s lives, and eventually our advocacy is also changing. We continue our fight for the complete decriminalization of sex work in Ukraine, because this will be a source of positive change for sex workers and their families.

After the invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, we were forced to respond to the simpler, but most urgent needs of sex workers. We were forced to rethink our priorities and define our main tasks for the wartime.

“… how to function, where to look for resources to support our community, because what kind of sex work could be there in such chaos - of course we were in shock. Sex workers were left without opportunity to earn money, without housing and funds for rent and a communal apartment, with no money to buy food, medicine, support their children and parents.. There are many questions and very few answers - where to look for resources and opportunities, how to solve problems, when the whole country is on fire, when the majority of our citizens have become vulnerable.. How to raise funds for the needs of sex workers, when help is needed for everyone beginning from the army, children, military families, etc.”, – tells Natalia Isaieva, director of the CO "Legalife-Ukraine".

Today we decided to reveal some of the results of our work done in 2022-2023 aimed for the well-being and saving lives of sex workers (SWs). Our hypotheses regarding the situation of sex work in Ukraine, finding solutions to problems, studying the needs of SWs and responding to them are all described in the ANALYTICAL REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF SWS IN WAR AND THE IMPACT OF PROJECTS TO SUPPORT SWs (within the framework of the project supported by ACTIONAID) 2022-2023.

INTRODUCTION

In the first three months of Russian aggression, active hostilities continued almost throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. Today, active battles are taking place in the east and south of our country, but missile attacks by Russian forces are taking place throughout Ukraine. A significant number of men left their families and went to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Women with children are forced to survive in constant tension and fear, to take care of their young children and the elderly. As a result of shelling in many cities, infrastructure facilities, residential buildings, offices of state institutions and NGOs were 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 bombing.

The poverty rate in Ukraine increased from 5.5% to 24.2% in 2022, pushing 8 million people below the poverty line. This is evidenced by data from a recent World Bank report. With unemployment unofficially at 36% and inflation hitting 26.6% at the end of 2022, more Ukrainians could end up below the poverty line in near future. Most problematic in this situation is the question of employment of people. According to the UN, as a result of aggression of the Russian Federation, 17.6 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian assistance. More than a third of the inhabitants of Ukraine are now in extremely difficult life conditions.

Since the beginning of the war, SWs have been in a difficult situation: often without work, housing, livelihood, in need of support. This war has a painful effect on psychological and physical health of SWs, which confirms their appeal to psychologists at the Hotline for SWs, negatively affects their economic and material situation, as well as the legal and social status of SWs. Due to the fact that sex work is criminalized and is not recognized as a type of work, SWs do not count on assistance from the state. 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.

From the first days of the war, the main task of CO "Legalife-Ukraine" was to ensure the preservation of life and health of SWs and their families. To solve this problem, our organization started implementing projects to provide humanitarian assistance to SWs and to provide psychological, legal and informational support to SWs in war conditions.

In the process of forming the study protocol, on the basis of the information received from the SWs, several hypotheses were built regarding negative changes in the financial situation of the SWs and the emergence of specific, compared with peacetime, needs for services. The results of the first stage of this survey would have to confirm or refute the following assumptions:

 - SWs are in dire need of humanitarian assistance due to reduced ability to provide for themselves and families, lack of other sources of income other than sex work, lack of financial support from the state;

-  SWs need help with housing rent, transportation/reimbursement of travel expenses to move to other cities where the military situation is safer;

 - SWs need psychological support due to the deterioration of mental health under the influence of this war;

 - SWs need legal support due to their high vulnerability to rights violations.

Based on the results of the second round of the survey, it was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions within the framework of the ACTIONAID-supported project, and develop proposals for future programs of humanitarian support to the community and to overcome barriers to services for SWs.

This report presents an analysis of the results of a survey among sex workers in Ukraine (SWs), conducted as part of the assessment of the needs of SWs in the context of war and the impact of projects to support SWs in 2022-2023. The evaluation was carried out by CO "LEGALIFE-UKRAINE" with the support of ACTIONAID.

CONCLUSIONS         

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and before the start of the war in Ukraine, sex workers were disproportionately vulnerable to the risk of violence, as well as sexual and emotional harm, and this harm is associated with the criminalization of sex work. Primary or direct stigma associated with sex work, sometimes disparagingly referred to as “prostitution” or “slut” stigma, is another source of social inequality for sex workers (according to research: “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 programs, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine", which was held in 2017-2018 by the All-Ukrainian charitable organization "Legalife-Ukraine", the Analytical Center "Socioconsulting", with the support of AFEW International).

The 2020-2021 global COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread negative economic, social and health damage to SWs. For people who sell sex, the consequences have been severe: their already precarious working conditions and access to health and social services have worsened. Surveys among SWs of Ukraine as part of the study of the availability and quality of services for SWs (done in August-October 2020, with support of SWAN) confirmed this impact and demonstrated that most SWs are quite vulnerable physically, psychologically and economically. For SWs, such problems as loneliness, lack of support from partners, relatives, in particular material support in the process of raising children, are topical. Well-being of the most of SWs has always depended on their work in the field of sex services. In response to the pandemic, CO “Legalife-Ukraine” responded quickly and tried in many ways to reduce the impact of the pandemic on community. Given the social and economic disadvantages of sex workers, structural barriers and widespread stigma preventing their inclusion in society, it is not surprising that for many sex workers organizing sex workers was the only way to meet their basic needs, receive medical care and social support.

Most of the hypotheses of this study regarding the deterioration of the socio-economic situation of SWs, the existence of an acute need for SWs in humanitarian, psychological and legal assistance were confirmed by the results of the survey.

Since the beginning of the war, the vulnerability of SWs in Ukraine only worsened. The vast majority of SWs (98% of SWs) experienced a sharp deterioration in their financial situation.

As before the war, the well-being of SWs and their families directly depends on their work in the field of sex services. 76% of SWs today have no other sources of income other than sex work and non-systemic charitable/humanitarian assistance. Although 21% of SWs receive assistance from the state (as IDPs (internally displaced persons), via child care programms, as low-income people, etc.), they lack this assistance not only for a decent life, but sometimes even for survival.

Despite the increasing risks and worsening conditions in sex work (as evidenced by 63% of SWs), the number of women earning money through sex work is increasing. This is due to an increase in number of SWs, who does not provided sex services before the war, but was forced to provide them today due to a sharp deterioration in their financial situation (11% of SWs), and an increase in number of SWs, who were able to adapt to the conditions of the war and are returning to sex work right now (12% SWs).

Note that the average age of women, who was forced to go to earn money by sex labor precisely because of the war, is 34 years.

Humanitarian needs

The results of the study showed that sex workers have a number of needs that are becoming increasingly important since the beginning of the war and are not fully met by both government agencies and NGOs. These needs include: humanitarian assistance, including an expanded list of funds necessary to ensure the survival of SWs in the absence of electricity, heat, water supply, etc., as well as temporary housing, transportation, psychological and legal support.

All survey participants did recognized urgent need for humanitarian assistance, because they have no ability to fully provide themselves and their families with food, medicine, hygiene products, warm clothing and other means necessary to survive in difficult conditions.

At the time of the first stage of the survey, 13% of SWs had no experience of receiving humanitarian aid from the CO "Legalife-Ukraine". The rest of the respondents received food and/or hygiene kits, medicines, etc. at least once. On a scale of the quality and relevance of this assistance (on a scale of 1 to 4, where 1 is “Very dissatisfied with the quality of products/funds” and “Not at all relevant in a war, not on time, not useful”, and 4 is “Very satisfied with the high the quality of products/funds” and “Very relevant in a war and necessary for survival”) SWs rated the assistance from our organization as "very high"/"high" quality of products/funds and "very relevant and necessary for survival" assistance.

After the 1st stage of the survey, the wishes of SWs regarding the list of products and funds they needed were taken into account, and conditions were created for receiving humanitarian kits on a monthly basis.

After a year of implementation of projects of CO "Legalife-Ukraine" aimed at supporting the community, during the 2nd stage of the survey - 100% of respondents noted that they repeatedly received various types of humanitarian products from the organization during the year. On the scale of quality and relevance of this assistance, SWs rated it as “very high”/“high” quality of products/funds and “very relevant and necessary for survival” assistance.

Within the framework of the projects of CO "Legalife-Ukraine" to support the community of SWs, after the 1st stage of the survey, this list of products and funds was taken into account and purchased for distribution among SWs, and conditions were created for receiving humanitarian kits on a monthly basis. Since the beginning of hostilities in 12 regions and Kyiv: more than 1,000 SWs have received 1,250 food and 1,250 hygiene kits, 450 baby food and hygiene kits, 840 medicine kits, and 260 travel kits. During this time, we conducted several surveys among sex workers in the regions in order to identify needs in wartime and update them. These surveys have confirmed that basic needs remain relevant.

In addition, on the eve of winter, the SWs was in dire need of various means that can help to survive in the absence of heat, light, clean drinking water, etc. In response to these needs, in 12 regions and in Kyiv, the SWs received additionally: 130 power banks, 130 sets of thermal underwear, 130 pairs of socks, 130 flashlights, 130 packs of tablets for water disinfection, 130 sleeping bags. Also, in order to maintain health and prevent HIV/STIs among SWs, community representatives were given 130 packs of gel-lubricant, 260 pregnancy tests, 700 packs of condoms.

Housing and transportation

After the start of the war, 35% of SWs were forced to change their address of residence/move to another, safer city to live in. 30.7% of SWs did not have adequate housing, 60.6% lived in rented housing.

After analyzing the results of the 1st phase of the survey, meeting the need for temporary housing and transportation for SWs became next to the main priorities for the SWs community. Compensation for housing rent, utility bills, transportation were included as interventions in the main project proposals of the organization.

At the end of the community support project - 71% of SWs, although they have satisfactory housing, but more than half of them need to worry about paying rent for the premises. From May 2022 to March 2023, 17% of those surveyed received compensation for temporary housing from the organization, 14% received compensation for travel expenses. On a scale of quality and relevance (on a scale from 1 to 4, where 1 is "Very dissatisfied with the quality of services" and "Completely not relevant in war conditions, not needed and not timely", and 4 - "Very satisfied with the high quality of services and consultations ” and “Very relevant in a war, timely and necessary for survival”), respondents rated these types of services/consultations as “very high” /“high” quality of services and “very relevant”/“relevant and necessary for survival” assistance.

During the year of implementation of community support projects, the number of services that meet the basic needs of SWs for survival has increased, respectively, the number of SWs receiving such services through the projects of CO "Legalife-Ukraine" has increased. But, despite the positive dynamics of services and coverage (+8.2% housing, +8.2% transport compensation, + 13% humanitarian assistance), resource constraints, including financial ones, do not cover the needs of most SWs. As of April 2023, the need of SWs for housing remains very relevant – at least 29% of the interviewed SWs do not have satisfactory housing, and 65% have to pay for housing rent.

Psychological help

Note: The conclusions about the health status of SWs in this study are not a medical diagnosis/professional opinion of psychologists/psychotherapists, but only our assumption based on the answers of SWs about their psycho-emotional state. To assess the state of mental health, we first asked SWs whether they felt the negative impact of the war on their psycho-emotional state/on the state of their children. Then we used three specific questions in which SWs were asked to choose from a list of feelings that they sometimes/frequently experience and correspond to their emotional state of late. The answers to these questions included the main signs of common psycho-emotional states and protective reactions of the body to external stimuli: stress, panic attacks, postponed life syndrome and emotional burnout. Our assumptions were based on the presence of half or more of the proposed signs of psycho-emotional imbalance in SWs and the analysis of their subjective assessments/answers.

The negative impact of the war on their own psycho-emotional state/state of children is felt by 91% of SWs, 2% of SWs deny the impact of the war, the rest could not assess such an impact.

Analyzing the responses of SWs, we can assume that the war really had a painful impact on their psycho-emotional state: every third SW is under constant stress, which negatively affects their emotions, mood and behavior, and can also have more serious consequences for the entire human body. 41% of SWs reported that they sometimes/often experienced panic attacks. In 5% of respondents, there are signs of delayed-life syndrome. In addition, 16% of SWs, while having clear signs of stress (from 5 to 8 signs for each SW), additionally have signs of emotional burnout.

During the first stage of the survey (April 2022), 46% of SWs had already received help of a psychologist from CO "Legalife-Ukraine", 90% knew about the opportunity to receive free psychological assistance from CO "Legalife-Ukraine". 44% planned to apply to a psychologist at the CO "Legalife-Ukraine" within the next year, 15% answered that they had no such plans. To create comfortable conditions for receiving psychological assistance, CO "Legalife-Ukraine"" provided opportunities for SWs to receive consultations from psychologists online, by phone, personally or during group psychological and therapeutic groups.

According to the results of the community support project - 58% of SWs from the respondents turned to psychologists at the Hotline of CO "Legalife-Ukraine"". The number of applications increased by 12%.

Of those SWs, who did not turn to psychologists: 5% think about such an opportunity, 7% talk about lack of time, 4% talk about lack of funds, 6% do not have confidence in psychologists, 3% turned to other psychologists, and the rest are not motivated or see no reason to apply.

Violation of SWs’ rights

The percentage of SWs who faced violations of their rights during war increased from 56% at the beginning of the war to 62% during second year of the war.

The most common types of violations of rights are: blackmail/coercion to cooperate by the police, denial of services in public institutions, delaying the process of obtaining social benefits and extorting charitable contributions for the opportunity to receive medical services.

It should be noted, that about 18% of SWs do not correctly assess a violation of human rights and in what cases they have the right to protection. In this survey, these are SWs who noted that they did not experienced violations of their rights, but in the following questions they talked about the facts of abuse of power by officials (police, medical and social workers) or employers and other gross violations of human rights that occurred in relation to them.

Almost half of respondents acknowledged that the war and its aftermath had negatively affected the ability of community members to defend their rights.

At the beginning of the war, 93% of SWs were aware of the possibility of receiving free legal assistance from CO “Legalife-Ukraine”.

50% of SWs had experience of applying to lawyers on various issues since the beginning of the war, another  9% of SWs of those who did not contacted lawyers since the beginning of the war had such plans in the near future.

In the second year of the war, 55% of the respondents had experience of applying for legal assistance. The number of applications on various issues of legal assistance increased by 5% over the year.

But one in four of the SWs who admit they have experienced violations of their rights do not seek help, because they do not believe in a positive outcome of the case or because of distrust to lawyers or lack of funds.

Therefore, it is important to continue educational activities among SWs on human rights and their protection, to strengthen the activities of paralegals in fixing and responding to violations of the rights of SWs, as well as advocacy activities to overcome barriers in access to legal services for SWs.

Additional Needs of SWs in War and Reconstruction Periods

In addition to the basic needs already listed, at the end of the project SWs reported several more needs unresolved, namely:

through taking care of their health and for the purpose of preventing HIV/STIs, 8% of sex workers reported a need for condoms of various sizes;

another 8% of SWs confirmed that the community does not have permanent premises where SWs can receive assistance;

3% of SWs noted the convenience of obtaining certificates/money instead of natural products for the purchase of necessary products/funds;

another 2% of SWs reported that they need help more frequently and regularly.

SWs also noted that they need additional types of services: access to doctors - a gynecologist, dermatologist, phlebologist, infectious disease specialist, etc., access to lawyers in areas remote from large cities, offline consultations of psychologists and psychological trainings.

Needs for self-organization of SWs

Community support projects are critical to ensure survival of sex workers during war in Ukraine and beyond. Given the criminalization, social and economic disadvantage of sex workers, structural barriers and stigmatization for many sex workers, self-organization of sex workers remains the only way to satisfy their basic needs, receive medical care, psychological and legal support. But, the limited possibilities of self-organization and insufficient funding for interventions do not allow to fully meet the needs of SWs in Ukraine. Self-organization needs increase of resources and support for programs for sex workers, that are aimed at changes in society and legislation, community development and advocacy, there are need of funding to overcome stigma and barriers, meeting the needs of sex workers.

During this time, we have done a lot of work to alleviate conditions of sex workers in Ukraine. We thanking our partners, friends, donors for their understanding and support of the needs of sex workers: Ukrainian Women’s Fund, NGO “100% Life – Network of PLHIV”, IF “Vozrozhdeniye”, SWAN – Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network, NSWP, PIC Amsterdam, ALIANZA/ACTIONAID SPAIN, Global Fund for Women and many others for supporting UNITED FRONT OF SEX WORKERS OF UKRAINE. #United_Front_of_Sex_Workers_of_Ukraine.

“War is war, but we are in our place. Many girls, in addition to working with us, also volunteer - they help migrants, the military, doctors, and the like. We help as much as we can, and each of us as much as heshe has a personal resource. But our goal of decriminalizing sex work has not changed. It’s just that the priorities, or rather the emphasis, are now on supporting the survival of sex workers, and we will continue active advocacy with the authorities according to the Decree as soon as we win this war. And this moment is approaching, we are sure ... ”, - Natalia Isaieva.

CO "Legalife-Ukraine" continues to work in the conditions of war, to attract additional resources to provide emergency assistance to SWs throughout Ukraine, responding to new challenges and getting used to new conditions. We did it, we do it, and we will continue to do it in the future, regardless of the holidays or disagreements. Because we know for sure that this is essential support for people, this is what our key communities need in order to survive in difficult times, and we are waiting for our common victory.

Let’s stick together and everything will be Ukraine!

Team of CO "Legalife-Ukraine"