Research Partnership with Ukraine: Short Report on Trafficking in Women from Ukraine Research Project

• NCJ Number: 218557
• Author(s): Donna M. Hughes
• Date Published: August 2001
• Length: 6 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This paper focuses on two subprojects of joint research project on trafficking in women from the Ukraine: the construction of the Web site, “Trafficking in Women from Ukraine” and the recruitment of Ukrainian women for marriage abroad.

Abstract

The “Trafficking in Women from Ukraine Research Project” Web site (http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/ukraine) provides useful information to researchers, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government officials, and students on the ongoing research project and the situation of trafficking in women from Ukraine. In addition, it publicizes the work of the research project and partnership. Determining the number of Ukrainian women who have been trafficked or exploited in sex industries abroad has been difficult and controversial. Estimates have been given ranging from 10,000s to 100,000s. The clandestine and illegal nature of trafficking of women in Ukraine and destination countries makes the precise determination of the numbers impossible. In an attempt to understand how many Ukrainian women are being recruited to go abroad, a public forum for recruitment and advertisement of women who wish to go abroad, the mail-order-bride sites on the Internet was used. Ukraine ranks second, after the Russian Federation, in the number of women who have been recruited by marriage agencies. Ukraine is a major sending country for women trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation throughout the world. A joint research project was undertaken on trafficking in women to characterize the victims and trafficking networks operating in Ukraine. Tables, figures