Despite efforts of the state government bodies, non-governmental and international public organizations, trafficking in children and their sexual exploitation remain currently a serious social problem for Ukraine. According to Svitlana Doroshok, coordinator of the program of child’s social protection of the Center “La Strada – Ukraine”, every seventh teenager suffers from sexual abuses from the direction of adults. And according to the information of the Ministry of internal affairs of Ukraine, since the beginning of the year more than 300 crimes regarding trafficking in children or their sexual exploitation were detected.

On May 24, the International women rights center “La Strada – Ukraine” in association with the Ministry of Ukraine for youth and sports and the Ministry of internal affairs of Ukraine conducted a press-conference “Trafficking in children or their sexual exploitation: situation in Ukraine and ways of counteraction”, dedicated to the International day of children.  

According to the Department of criminal militia for minors (CMM), this year 87 criminal cases due to clause 301 of the Criminal code of Ukraine were initiated (import, production, sale and distribution of pornography).

For example, on February 2, 2005 CMM in Zaporizhia region during examination of a computer club in a files database pictures and video-materials of pornographic character were detected. A criminal case was initiated on this fact due to part 2, clause 310 of the Criminal code of Ukraine.  

And in March conducting operational-preventive measures “Holidays” officers of CMM in Poltava region detected a citizen, year of birth 1950, who ravished minors, took their pictures and made pornographic production for sale. After material evidences were withdrawn, a criminal case was initiated against the citizen due to part 1, clause 156 and clause 301 of the Criminal code of Ukraine.

In Cherkasy region a twenty-year old teacher of history, work and physical training of a village school became “notable”. As it was documented by officers of CMM, the young pedagogue in the school workshop repeatedly ravished and had sexual intercourse with three schoolgirls of the mentioned school, for certain realizing they didn’t come of age. Now, according to part 1, clause 156 of the Criminal code of Ukraine, the profligate is to be arrested for the term up to six months or deprived of liberty for the term up to three years. 

Generally since the beginning of the year CMM officers documented 8 crimes presupposed by clause 155 of the Criminal code of Ukraine (sexual intercourse with a person who haven’t reached puberty) and 28 – by clause 156 of the Criminal code of Ukraine (debauchery of youth).

Child’s prostitution and trafficking in children remains probably the most serious problem for Ukraine. The Ministry of internal affairs of Ukraine initiated 54 criminal cases due to clause 302 of the Criminal code of Ukraine (establishing or maintaining places of debauch and procuration), 38 due to clause 330 the Criminal code of Ukraine (prostitution or forcing to prostitution), 88 crimes regarding trafficking in human beings were registered (among which crimes connected with trafficking in children constitute a considerable part).

According to the head of the Department of criminal militia for minors Mykhaylo Tsymbaliuk, measures on counteraction to trafficking in children and their sexual exploitation are constantly controlled by the Ministry of internal affairs of Ukraine. But participants of the press-conference came to the conclusion that this problem is to be solved on the international level, not local only, directing efforts of world’s governments to extirpating the market of trafficking in children, their sexual exploitation and child’s pornography, and not only call to account single crimes.   

Olena Holiuk

RUPOR