Prostitution in Ukraine is illegal but widespread and largely ignored by the government.[1] In recent times, Ukraine has become a popular prostitution and sex trafficking destination. Ukraine is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked transnationally for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. Ukraine's dissolution from the Soviet Union, saw the nation attempt to transition from a planned economy to a market economy. The transition process inflicted economic hardship in the nation, with nearly 80% of the population forced into poverty in the decade that followed its independence.[2] Unemployment in Ukraine was growing at an increasing rate, with female unemployment rising to 64% by 1997.[3] The economic decline in Ukraine made the nation vulnerable and forced many to depend on prostitution and trafficking as a source of income.[4] Sex tourism rose as the country attracted greater numbers of foreign tourists.[1][5]
- ^ a b "US Department of State: Ukraine". State.gov. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
- ^ "Microsoft Word - The Social and .... _FSU JDC_.doc" (PDF). Claimscon.org. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ "Ukraine leads in number of human trafficking victims in Eastern Europe, group says". International Herald Tribune. 16 March 2008. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ "Appendix I" (PDF). Theadvocatesforhumanrights.org. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ Antonova, Natalia (24 April 2012). "Welcome to Kiev: city of beautiful women and a prospering sex industry". The Guardian. London.