“Sex workers will not be safe as long as they remain outside the law”, Inga Pavlenko, Vinnytsia, Ukraine

WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS ‘ABOUT WAR AND SEX WORK IN UKRAINE’ with our leaders and paralegals in 2026. Almost a year has passed since our last public conversation with our regional representatives, when we talked about the lives of Ukrainians, the fate of sex workers and the sphere of sex services in Ukraine during the war. This year, we return to this conversation to recall the events of four years of this war and analyse their impact on our community and society.

INGA PAVLENKO (Інга Павленко) – paralegal for the sex workers’ community at the charity organisation “LEGALIFE-UKRAINE” in Vinnytsia, Ukraine   

Natalia Dorofeeva, CO “Legalife-Ukraine” (ND): Hello, Inga! The last time we spoke was almost a year ago. Tell us how you are doing, what has happened during this time, what changes have occurred in your professional and everyday life?

Inga Pavlenko: I live in Vinnytsia, and that hasn’t changed during the war. The year since the last interview has, on the one hand, gone by very quickly, and on the other, felt very long. Quickly, because there’s been a lot of work, many problems and challenges to overcome; I’ve been constantly busy, and the weeks just flew by. But this year has also felt long because, like many other Ukrainians, I’m waiting for victory, for the war to end, for a return to peaceful life...

In my personal life, there have been no changes — I don’t have the energy for any changes, and it’s not the right time.

However, at the end of last year I defended my master’s thesis in psychology and am still studying to become a psychotherapist in the Gestalt direction — I try to live “here and now”. It is this training that gives me the strength to maintain my resilience, regulate my emotional state, and help others survive in wartime conditions.

ND: Congratulations on defending your master’s thesis! Especially as the community now, more than ever, needs friendly psychologists and psychotherapists. Let’s talk about the changes in the lives of sex workers and in the sex work market that have taken place over the last four years.

Inga: The situation in the sex work market is getting worse every year, and we can already add the word “critical” to describe it.

In addition to the psychological and emotional problems faced by young women – which almost all of them complain about – a lack of money and violence have a major impact on their lives. Women who have been married or in a civil partnership are more likely to choose to be single. And this isn’t about choosing to be free; it’s a matter of basic survival for themselves and their child or children. They come to the conclusion that it is easier to survive on their own or with a child than to support a husband who is unemployed (because he is in hiding from the TCC, or is unable to work due to health issues, or has addictions).

As for the number of girls who have entered and are working on the sex work market, there are now far more of them. Many new faces. Many IDPs. There are girls who lasted three years but couldn’t cope and went abroad in search of a better life, but this still does not affect the growth in the overall number of sex workers.

Competition is high, the demand for sex services is decreasing, and earnings are falling accordingly. The girls complain that finding a client is becoming increasingly difficult. And those clients who do come either try not to pay or haggle over every hryvnia. Furthermore, most clients display aggression, humiliate the girls and insult them.

ND: Leaders and paralegals from other regions also note an increase in cases of violence against sex workers. Could you tell us more about what women are facing and what measures you are taking to help the victims?

Inga: The issue of violence has been coming up more and more frequently recently. This violence comes from both sex workers’ clients and their family members.

In my experience, cases of domestic violence have increased several-fold. And when women leave their abusers, it is largely a matter of protecting their own lives and health. I can give an example that illustrates the overall picture. A young woman—let’s call her Olena (Олена) —went to the countryside to visit relatives with her partner, a demobilised soldier. In the evening, whilst drinking together at the table, an argument broke out between Olena’s partner and her grandmother—the owner of the house. Olena stood up for her grandmother, and in response, the man used brute physical force. Olena had to flee the house and call the police. However, upon arrival, the police drew up a report for a false alarm, citing the fact that the perpetrator was a demobilised soldier and that everyone had been drinking, among other reasons.

That is, women in the SWs who experience domestic or gender-based violence often face prejudice and denial of help. The police or other services often do not take them seriously, blame the victims themselves or refuse to register complaints. Due to fear of condemnation, disclosure of personal data or loss of children, women are afraid to seek protection. After such treatment, women feel doubly vulnerable and humiliated.

Another obstacle is the lack of access to safe shelter and qualified legal assistance. As a result, many cases of violence remain unsolved and without an adequate response.

Inga Pavlenko

ND; Inga, you work here as a paralegal. Could you explain to those who aren’t familiar with the role what this job entails: who can become a paralegal, where can one train for it, and in what situations should people contact you?

Inga: A community paralegal is a specialist who helps people defend their rights outside the traditional legal system, particularly where access to lawyers is limited or expensive.

A paralegal acts as an intermediary between sex workers and the legal system. A paralegal is not a lawyer, but has enough knowledge of the law to advise people on their basic rights; help draft appeals, statements, complaints; explain legal procedures in plain language; promote peaceful resolution of conflicts; and refer people to human rights organisations if the case is complex.

Both novice lawyers and any activists or social workers who have undergone special training can become paralegals. The main thing is a desire to help people and a basic understanding of legal processes.

Paralegals reduce the ‘legal gap’ between the state and the people. They make the law more accessible, understandable and approachable, especially for vulnerable groups.

For our girls, as a paralegal, I explain their rights when communicating with the police; I help them to file statements about violence, blackmail or extortion, etc.; I help them to complete documents for court or appeals to the Ombudsman; I refer them to human rights organisations, help with document replacement, accompany them to Administrative Service Centres and healthcare facilities to access services, and explain what certificates are required and how to minimise bureaucratic hurdles.

There is a lot of work to be done, and I take a personalised approach to each individual case. Every sex worker is a person who is often unprotected and vulnerable, and our society is still far from achieving acceptance, awareness and non-judgement.

ND: Please explain, why paralegals use the DataCheck app? Could sex workers use DataCheck themselves?

Inga: In DataCheck, I enter the client’s details and a detailed description of the offence: where the incident took place, when, under what circumstances, and by whom the sex worker’s rights were violated. This is not just a record of the incident for tracking or statistics, but also an opportunity for sex workers to defend their rights by receiving free assistance from a professional lawyer. It is important that, once a violation of rights or an act of violence has been recorded, any assistance – whether paralegal or legal – is provided only with the client’s consent.

Clients also have the option to register with DataCheck themselves and enter a description of the violation. (However, for various reasons, most of our clients choose not to do this themselves.

ND: You said that receiving assistance is voluntary, meaning that no one can interfere in the SW’s affairs without their consent?

Inga: Yes, we only take action after obtaining voluntary consent, when client is ready to stand up for herself and her rights. But often it all ends with the case simply being recorded.

ND: Yes, I’ve noticed a significant difference between the number of reported offences and those resolved successfully. In most cases, the reason given for unresolved cases is precisely sex workers’ refusal of assistance. Why do you think sex workers refuse to take legal action or seek help from paralegals or professional lawyers?

Inga: In my opinion, all sex workers have had negative experiences dealing with law enforcement — they have been humiliated, blackmailed, detained, and put on a register. Therefore, even when an offence has been committed, women fear that filing a complaint will ‘backfire on them’; that their name or profession will become known to those around them; that they will lose clients or their accommodation.

The fear of losing anonymity often outweighs the desire to seek justice. Only decriminalisation can change this situation — our sex workers will not feel safe or confident as long as they are outside the law.

ND: In 2025, the number of applications to DataCheck regarding rights violations and discrimination increased significantly across Ukraine. In your opinion, what does this indicate?

Inga: The increase in the number of applications reflects a complex signal. It indicates an increase in problems, but at the same time is a sign of growing trust and the effectiveness of paralegals’ work.

In recent years, paralegals have become more visible, particularly in big cities and among vulnerable groups. People are increasingly realising that a paralegal is a safe, non-judgemental and accessible form of support. Sex workers are increasingly realising that a paralegal offers a safe, non-judgemental and accessible form of support. They turn to them when they believe they will be listened to and not condemned.

Since 2022, due to martial law, displacement, economic hardship and police raids, conditions for sex workers have deteriorated significantly: the number of cases of violence has risen; there are instances of blackmail, extortion or police abuse; many lack documents or a stable place of residence. So the increase in applications may reflect the deterioration of the real situation.

ND: In which areas do sex workers most often face stigma, discrimination and rights violations today?

Inga: Today, the most problematic area for sex workers remains their interaction with law enforcement, whilst the most dangerous for their health are cases of violence and issues in the healthcare sector. Denial of social services, breaches of data confidentiality, discrimination against sex workers when applying for jobs, and the loss of documents during relocation — these problems also exist, and I cannot say that they have become any less common.

ND: Could you elaborate on each area separately, explaining what sex workers most frequently encounter and what kinds of cases you have to deal with?

Inga: The main types of rights violations committed by law enforcement agencies include violations of procedural rights unjustified detention, coercion, lack of legal representation, discrimination and stigmatisation by the police or judges, violations of the right to privacy (disclosure of personal information, public humiliation), denial of access to justice and the lack of effective investigation into violence (refusal to accept statements, threats and intimidation).

It often happens that women refuse my help for fear of being targeted by the police. A report is filed against a woman for providing sexual services whilst she was simply at a petrol station having a coffee. I explain the situation; I understand that this report can be canceled, but the girl refuses because she is afraid of what might happen next, as she still needs to ‘stand there’ and earn a living.

In the healthcare sector, the problems are almost the same: discrimination and stigmatisation, denial of access to medical services, demands for money when the service is free, disclosure of personal information, and public humiliation. Women are often sent to private clinics.

In such cases, it is difficult for me to prove a rights violation, because more often than not, urgent medical care must be provided — it is a matter of health, and sometimes even life, and most conversations take place in consultation rooms without witnesses.

When resolving violations of rights in the medical field, I turn to a friendly family doctor, with whom the client signs a declaration and receives everything she needs for her health. For laboratory tests, we accompany the client to the Centre for Infectious Diseases, where she can undergo all necessary tests free of charge.

Counselling a sex worker, Vinnytsia, 2025

The biggest problems in the social sector are social workers overstepping their authority by humiliating, condemning, divulging private information, and threatening to take children into care, even though their role is to help, support, and provide social, educational, humanitarian and psychological assistance.

Solving such cases is not very difficult for me, because I personally worked in a social service center and know all the nuances of this work. When a client approaches me with a problem related to social services, I immediately contact the director of the relevant local authority department. Issues are resolved quickly — we receive an apology and an explanation that they misunderstood the situation, humanitarian aid is provided to the family, and, most importantly, the woman and her child are left in peace.

In the field of employment, problems often arise when personal information is disclosed. In such cases, the employer dismisses the employee without explanation and often fails to pay wages.

In such cases, it is often enough to warn the employer that we will contact the State Labor Service of Ukraine or hint that there will be a complaint to the tax service. The employer does not expect anyone to defend the rights of sex workers. Reinstatement will not happen, but the woman will receive the money she has earned.

There was a case where a girl injured her arm and was dismissed, and received half the amount they had agreed upon; however, after my conversation with the employer, he paid her the full agreed amount plus an additional five thousand for medical treatment.

ND: Tell us about the most challenging paralegal case in your practice, or one that has stuck in your memory.

Inga: There is one case that often comes to mind, and I would like to talk about that one. A client sex worker contacted me with a report of bullying of her daughter, a second-grade student, by her homeroom teacher.

According to the client, the teacher systematically displayed a biased attitude towards the child: making unfounded remarks, publicly humiliating her in front of her classmates, and accusing her of minor disciplinary offences. Such actions continued for several months. The child’s mother only found out about this after the girl refused to go to school.

The client told me that she had a conversation with the teacher, during which the teacher subjected her to insults and humiliation. In particular, she claimed that she “knew” the woman was involved in prostitution and expressed the view that “a child from such a family has no place in school”.

The teacher’s actions bore the hallmarks of bullying, as defined in Article 1 of the Law of Ukraine “On Education” — systematic psychological violence, humiliation and discrimination against a pupil — which I explained to the client. I also explained that such statements can be regarded as a violation:

• the child’s right to respect for their honour and dignity (Article 28 of the Constitution of Ukraine, Article 150 of the Family Code of Ukraine, Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child);
• the principle of non-discrimination (Article 24 of the Constitution of Ukraine, Article 53 of the Law “On Education”);
• the ethical standards of conduct for teaching staff (Article 54 of the Law “On Education”).

I provided the client with paralegal advice on how to respond to incidents of bullying. I helped her draft a written statement to the headteacher requesting an internal investigation. Together with the client, we approached the headteacher and reported the incident of bullying.

I carried out awareness-raising work with the school administration regarding the prevention of discriminatory remarks by teaching staff. Following our complaint, the headteacher conducted an internal investigation. And I did not even have to insist on contacting the Children’s Services and the Education Department for an appropriate response. The bullying was confirmed. The teacher was given a reprimand, removed from her role as class teacher, and preventive work was carried out with the teaching staff. The child was transferred to another class, where a safe educational environment was ensured. A school psychologist worked with the child, and preventive measures to stop bullying were implemented in all classes. This case was very significant for me; my actions may well have prevented more than a few children’s tears.

ND: Inga, why can’t most SWs stand up for their rights and protect themselves, their children, etc. on their own, without your help or the help of other paralegals?

Inga: In most cases, SWs do not have sufficient capacity to solve such problems on their own. They are often unaware of their rights, distrust the police and other state institutions, and fear judgement and the disclosure of information about their activities. Due to stigma and a lack of support, they rarely have access to legal aid or crisis services. Only with support can women in sex work effectively defend their rights and receive protection.

ND: Who else in your city can sex workers turn to for help and protection? Which organisations do you collaborate with, and on what issues?

Inga: Apart from our organisation, no one else is working on sex workers’ rights in the same way we do. As for collaboration, I’d like to mention the Centre for Free Legal Aid straight away — we have a long-standing and productive partnership with them. Our other partners include the Clinical Centre for Infectious Diseases, the ‘Parostok’ NGO (ГО «Паросток») for the social development and empowerment of vulnerable groups of young people, which addresses the needs of people with disabilities, and the СO «Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS» (БО “Мережа людей, що живуть з ВІЛ/СНІД”). And I often turn to the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, where in complex cases of violations of SWs rights they help to draw up applications and explain the legislation.

ND: Inga, thank you for the information and your openness. I am sure your experience will be useful to our activists, especially those just starting out. So I suggest you offer some advice specifically to those who are just beginning their journey in human rights advocacy.

Inga: New legal trainees and activists should, above all, develop their critical thinking skills and their ability to work with reliable sources. It is important to stay in touch with the community, as trust is the foundation of effective advocacy. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek out mentors among experienced lawyers.

Interview by Natalia Dorofeeva, CO “Legalife-Ukraine”