Ukrainian traffic problems

I just returned from helping with an anti-smoking presentation in one of the local schools. We do these types of presentations on a variety of subjects (one each month) at a handful of school in Kerch and the villages. Thus far, I have attended or helped with those pertaining to drugs, AIDS and smoking, but we also have them for alcoholism and human trafficking. If you're at all like me, that last topic seemed a little out of place among the issues that are likely to affect the daily lives of the school children of Ukraine.

Since I'm a fairly curious type of guy, I looked around a little bit to see how prevalent human trafficking is in Eastern Europe. In its 2007 report on human trafficking, the US State Department placed Ukraine (along with Russia, Belarus and Moldova) in the tier 2 watch list on their 3 tiered scale. The watch list designation indicates that it is on the verge of being moved to the 3rd tier (worst category). This means that it is currently in the same category as Mauritania, a country that just criminalized slavery last year and is estimated to have 20% of its population still in bondage. That is not a good record.

The State Department report indicates that Ukraine is a source, destination and transit route for human trafficking. Eastern Europeans have historically been highly prized as slaves by traders across Europe, Africa and Asia. During the 300 years of Tatar rule in Crimea, an estimated 3 million Slavic prisoners were seized and enslaved in the Muslim world. Unfortunately, their distinctive physical features (pale eyes w/ darker hair, high cheek bones, etc) make them particularly valued in the areas of sexual exploitation.

Ukraine's economy is improving at a fantastic rate (only tarnished by very high inflation) but the lull of international work for great wages still entices many Ukrainians to leave home in search of greater lifestyle. For many this proves to be lucrative as they earn comparatively high wages which they can bring home to improve their situation here. For others, the lure of work is a trap used by traffickers. Once outside Ukraine, the traffickers can take all identification papers making escape nearly impossible. Last week, someone here was telling me that their father went to Turkey for work and was enslaved as the member of cargo ship's crew for 4 or 5 years before he was able to escape. Tragically, for many of the women caught in this, their work is not nearly so wholesome. Prostitution and domestic servitude (often involving sexual exploitation) are common for those who leave their homeland without a trustworthy support structure as protection.

The report also indicated that there are serious issues of slavery within Ukraine - sort of a mirror image of the situation for Ukrainians outside the country - seeing a growing number of foreigners held here against their will. Due to it's geographic position, Ukraine has become a crossroads for traffickers moving people between Europe, Asia and Africa.

Now, having become more educated on the situation and the dangers it presents, I am glad that we are addressing this serious issue with both students and their parents in the upcoming months.