Prostitution, surrogacy, and trafficking in Ukraine
by Rachel Wong, MercatorNet:
If we are serious about helping Ukrainian women and children, we should work to eliminate the sordid industries which exploit them.
Countless media stories have been shining a spotlight on the dangers facing vulnerable women and children as they flee Ukraine to neighbouring countries in search of safety and refuge. Since the Russian invasion began, more than three and a half million people have fled the country. Because men aged under 60 years old are required to stay in the country and fight, the majority of those fleeing are women and children.
In raising awareness of the dangers facing these women and children and exposing the business model and tactics used by people traffickers to lure in their victims, this media and social media coverage serves a useful purpose. Perhaps knowing how these predators operate can help the women and children in danger navigate their way to safety.
On the other hand, it is concerning to note that some of the people who claim to be championing the plight of Ukrainians (with gestures such as lighting up government buildings or auctioning off dresses for charity) are the same people publicly supporting the industries that fuel human trafficking in the first place.
Industries like prostitution and surrogacy – which are both flourishing in Ukraine – commodify and exploit women and children, exacerbate their vulnerability, and create the markets that people traffickers fill. Without the entrenched exploitation of women in Ukrainian society and the ready market for vulnerable women and children both inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries, traffickers would not have the same success or incentive.
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