Great to see feminists in the Ukraine are fighting back against sexual violence and sexual exploitation of women and girls. We often see demeaning and sexualised representation of east European women-often in the sex trafficking, fashion and prostitution industries. For example, the other day I saw an image of a little girl of about 8 or 10 years old. She was a beauty pageant with the title Miss Perfect. The image and accompanying title were posted in Russia’s state run media outlet which operate this very website. The scene and title are profoundly damaging to the self images of millions of little girls-who are not perfect[since nobody can be perfect]. Thus, hyper sexualising women and girls, the rise of billions dollar prostitution enterprises in places such as the Ukraine, illustrate how women in the former Soviet Union spaces have been enticed into the ugliest aspects of western capitalism. Also, it is pertinent to keep in mind that according to number media reports, the organizers of the World Cup in Berlin four years ago had smuggled thousands of high paid prostitutes from the former Soviet and Latin American countries to cater to the sexual needs of officials and players. So controversy over prostitution ring in the Ukraine may suggest that the procurement of prostitutes has now become an expected part of not so beautiful game.

I wish the story of human trafficking is told in its full horrendous light. As it stands now, the whole story is wrapped up and contained within the "sexual exploitation" boundaries. But this is not the most horrifying part of it. During the war for Kosovo secession, many people have disappeared, mostly minority Serbian population. Carla Del Ponte, the Hague Prosecutor for the crimes in former Yugoslavia investigated the trail of some missing persons, and located a house in Albania that served as the place for extacting human organs. The so called "Yellow House" was not allowed to be investigated, even though investigators came to check the surroundings and found medical refuse indicating surgical activity. In separate incidents, a truck-full of organs was found in Macedonia, and recentry, an organ trading schema uncovered in Italy. In Pristina, Kosovo, another "clinic" was raided for same "business". In New York, arrests were made of organ-trading operatives. It is critical that authorities in all countries ALERT their population that the promises of jobs in the "West", legal or illegal, often lead not only to prostitution slavery, but for those not any more usefull in the trade, or just those who end up being sick or broken down mentally, the path leads to organ-harvesting places. This is a lucrative business, with Albania probably being one of the hubs of operation. Kosovo-Albania border is no longer controlled, or it's control is a fiction. I blame the spineless politicians in Ukraine and elsewhere in Eastern Europe who are deliberately closing their eyes at this tragedy. They are perhaps hoping the people would leave, having then less to feed and clothe and find a job for. It will then remain to people themsleves to spread the word, and tell young women not to accept jobs through "agencies" without checking. They, like many others, will disappear in some distant "yellow house".

Bianca Sexual exploitation of women is not a simple issue, often the stories of cutting up women and harvesting their body parts often starts with sexual humiliation of these women. Racism is central to sexual violence against women. Nazi did this as well. I agree with you this issue needs to be explored and exposed but the need to expose sexual violence against Serb women in Kosovo does not preclude exposing sexual violence against women in the Ukraine. Now, do you think that the Serb soldiers in Kosovo may have also been guilt of sexual violence against Albanian women?

There was a human trafficking story shown on RT last summer. I found the link: http://rt.com/About_Us/Programmes/XL_Reports/2009-07-15/489928.html While tragic and horrific, it's not strictly on the topic of the story, though. Neither is organ harvesting. What would be more interesting to explore is the extent of the profiteering, mentioned in the story, among (especially) politicians. If they're not running it, they're turning a blind eye to it, and undoubtedly utilising it. Well done to these brave women for drawing attention to it.

Roger, I also saw that excellent RT report. I think profiteering from the sexual exploitation of women by some Ukraine based politicians can be related to the sexual trafficking of women and illegal organ harvesting. All these themes point to the political economy of human expiation for the sake of wealth making. In this case,the sexual exploitation of the Ukrainian women during these games cannot be severed from corporate sponsorship of these games and local and state politicians' stake in both hosting these games and exploiting vulnerable women to procure their sexual services for game’s officials, athletics and paying spectators.

hello, I understand the problems that are being faced in Ukraine. I have been involved with marriage dating agenices there,...and there is much dishonesty there So, instead of wasting time with silly protests, get serious about EDUCATING women and girls in Ukraine about the hazards of foreign job offers that seem too good to be true; etc. Can you find ways of trainig the prostitutes to earn a good living in Ukraine? Yes? No? if ,not, prepare to deal with prostitution...better to legalize it! Here in US....anyone can find prostitutes anywhere in America where there is city populations. Many sucessful men, rather than put up with a neurotic, emotionally damaged woman, or unfaithful woman,. or nagging, harpie woman or obese (very fat women)...prefers to pay young, beautiful , educated woman to come and have sex, then leave man alone Would an American guy rather take out a friendly, clean attractive prostitute while visiting Odessa instead of a gold digging, green card seeking marriage agency scammer??? What do you think? If more women had realistic relationship goals, and chose thier men with thier heads instead of thier hearts and/or sexual organs, they would be much happier, and lead better lives; but women certainly do not do that in USA nor do many of the marriage agency types appear to do this when they are young, in Ukraine!! Till such issues are addressed, women will continue to fall prey to trafficing or worse, organ harvesters, so silly street demonstrations are mere sideshows, start getting political, NOW! Sincerely, An American man who adores Ukrainian women.

Let's demonstrate against prostitution by taking off our clothes and mud-wrestling ... Oh the irony...

Also, I do not see the point of promoting feminism by 'objectifying' yourself. This does exactly the opposite of what they are trying to achieve.

Instead, these women should be promoting education and moral values.