“Zlomovchannya”. Today’s traffic of kidnapped Ukrainian women most often goes through Greece and Turkey

The six-part film “Zlomovchannya” tells about the Kiev businesswoman Olga, played by Ksenia Mishina. Her heroine is looking for her missing niece. The trail leads Olga to a criminal organization that kidnaps young Ukrainian women and sells them into sexual slavery in Europe.

The plot of the series is based on real events and shows in detail the human traffic from Ukraine to the Old World, where our compatriots are inclined to sexual exploitation. In our country, this problem is fought public organization “La Strada Ukraine”.

It has been in effect for 24 years, and during this time a huge number of our compatriots who fell into slavery turned here. The organization’s specialists are engaged in their search and rescue, as well as help with recovery from such a monstrous life experience.

On the eve of the premiere of “Zlomovchannya” we talked with the president of “La Strada Ukraine” Katerina Turtle… She told how this series can help in the fight against sexual slavery, how many Ukrainians have fallen into captivity and what should be done so as not to recruit you yourself.

The title of the series “Zlomovchannya” carries the message that it is evil to keep silent about the problem of sexual slavery.

Indeed, it is necessary to talk about this problem as often as possible. It is important to inform, talk about the risks and negative consequences both for the victim himself and for the state as a whole, improve the system of response and assistance to the victims.

Can “Zlomovchannya” affect the current state of affairs with sexual slavery and human trafficking?

Undoubtedly. Such serials inform the public about this problem. People are becoming more aware and cautious, so they are less likely to be victims of the slave trade. In such films, you can find examples of how to behave in situations when you fell into slavery. Forewarned means protected.

In the story, young Ukrainian women are kidnapped and taken to European brothels through the Croatian city of Osijek. And in real life, through which countries does the traffic of our kidnapped compatriots pass?

This path has changed over the years. For example, at the end of the 90s, they were transported in transit through the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Although these countries themselves were also destinations. Then these routes began to run through the Balkan countries. And today Greece and Turkey appear most often.

Is it fair to say, “If you are in sexual slavery, it is your own fault”?

Often, public condemnation hits precisely the victims themselves. But this is absolutely wrong! Everything that happens to the victims is not their fault. After all, this person simply became a victim of circumstances. In fact, he needs support, not condemnation.

Because of such criticism, many women are afraid to seek help, because they are worried that they will find out about their problem and begin to accuse and insult. The culprit in this situation is precisely those who recruit and exploit people, not their victims.

What are some of the signs that you might be suspected of being recruited into sexual slavery?

Often, recruitment into slavery begins with the promise of a very attractive job abroad, huge earnings, a successful career, etc. But a person should be alerted when they say to him: “Yes, everything will be fine, the main thing is to get somewhere in Europe and already there we will arrange everything on the spot.” Such conversations should be immediately stopped and all the necessary documents (contract, work permit, visa …) should be drawn up here and now, even before departure.

It is also important to read all documents in your native language, and not in some foreign language that you do not know well. The contract must necessarily specify how many hours you need to work, what payment and insurance is due for this, as well as where the employee will live. A company that finds a person to work abroad must have official registration documents. If these documents are not available or they are in doubt, then this is the first sign that the company is offering illegal work. But it is precisely from illegal work that they often fall into slavery. Also, documents should not be taken from a person.

How often do people who have fallen into slavery turn to your organization?

Often enough. Usually it is not these people themselves who communicate with us, but their relatives. For obvious reasons, the people who find themselves in slavery cannot tell about their problem, but they can convey to their loved ones minimal messages about where they are and what situation they find themselves in. Having received this information, we can contact the Ukrainian Embassy in this country, public organizations and structures that provide assistance to victims of human trafficking. We recommend that relatives contact law enforcement agencies.

For example, if there is information that in a certain city, at a certain address, a kidnapped girl is being persuaded into sexual exploitation, then there is a much greater chance that she will be quickly found and released.

True, it also happens that relatives turn to us and say: “I went abroad and disappeared.” And no more other data. In this case, unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find a person.

Has the volume of human trafficking been decreasing over the years?

The main reason people find themselves in a situation of human trafficking and exploitation is the need to earn money. That is, the worse the economic situation in the country, the more often people go abroad in search of better jobs and fall into slavery.

In general, over the years of independence of our country, more than 260 thousand Ukrainians fell into slavery. This is data from the International Organization for Migration.

Unfortunately, it happens that after liberation from slavery, individuals do not receive support from either specialized organizations or from their loved ones, and become vulnerable to re-entering the situation of human trafficking.

There are cases when victims themselves become recruiters.

More often men or women become slaves?

Trends in recent years indicate that in Ukraine, men most often become victims. They are used in labor exploitation. But if you look at the statistics around the world, then a larger percentage is made up of girls who are persuaded to sexual exploitation.

What films on the topic of human trafficking deserve attention?

A landmark picture in this regard is “Lilya Forever” (2002) with Oksana Akinshina. She very clearly shows the dramatic fate of a girl who found herself in a similar situation. A very striking film “Your name is Justine” (2005), which clearly shows what a nightmare the life of a girl who fell into slavery turns into. And the TV series “Living Goods” (2005) provides an opportunity to look into the behind-the-scenes of human trafficking.

What films is worth watching for a person who has broken free from slavery and is undergoing rehabilitation in order to return to a normal lifestyle?

It seems to me that watching such thematic films can be quite traumatic for a person who has recently experienced a similar situation. It may take a certain time, undergoing rehabilitation, in order to minimize the possible risk of injury when watching films or programs on this topic.

Has it ever happened that after the release of some individual films or series, there was a surge in appeals to your organization?

We received just a flurry of addresses from teenagers after the premiere of the series “The First Swallows”. Young people asked for help with urgent problems for them: difficult relationships with peers, drug use, suicidal moods, etc.

Author of the material: Anton Filatov.

The exclusive premiere of the Zlomovchannya series (produced by Drugi plan and Star Media) will take place in December 2021 on the OLL.TV online service.

https://www.527.org.ua – National hotline on combating human trafficking and counseling migrants

0 800 500 335 or 116 123 – National Hotline for Prevention of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking and Gender Discrimination

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