Activists attending a major conference by the International Council of Women say
official statistics on human trafficking in Ukraine - and elsewhere - belie the
true scope of the problem.
"Ukraine is one of world supplier of slaves. Official statistics do not show
real figures for us," said Alina Komarova, deputy head of the National Council
Of Ukraine's Women.
"The sale of young girls and women, sex and economic slavery are part of an
international criminal business that has taken root in Ukraine," Yuriy
Pavlenko, head of a state council to combat human trafficking, told the 31st
session of the council's General Assembly.
"It spreads fast...It demands joint efforts and active co-operation from all
governments and societies," he said.
About 300 activists from 22 countries came to Ukraine for assembly of the
council, a group that works to prevent discrimination and violence against
women.
Ukraine remains a primary source for men, women and children trafficked to
Europe, the Middle East and Russia for sexual exploitation and forced labor,
officials say. Low salaries and unemployment force thousands of Ukrainians to
seek employment abroad, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation, they
say.
The International Organization for Migration says it has provided assistance to
more than 2,700 Ukrainians who were victims of trafficking since 2000, but
estimates that number is only a small portion of the victims.
Pavlenko praised Ukraine's government for launching new initiatives to combat
trafficking, including forming a special law enforcement division.
"It is a problem for all countries, but especially for all former Soviet
republics. Often our women go to other countries not knowing what they will
face there," said Elena Bashun, a member of the Union of Russian Women.
