“Ukraine’s sex worker community embodies incredible courage and resilience”
For the Charitable Organization “Positive Women” and “Legalife-Ukraine,” a decade-long journey is more than just figures in reports; it represents thousands of shared decisions, challenges, and victories. Over the last four years, marked by full-scale war and constant crisis, this partnership has transformed into a true sisterhood. Olena Stryzhak, Head of the Board, reflected on the community’s 13th anniversary, which by early 2026 has become a vital pillar of support for tens of thousands of women across Ukraine.
“We have shifted from predominantly advocacy to a large-scale humanitarian response,” Olena recalls.
When the world began to collapse in 2022, our activists in Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, and Cherkasy did not wait for instructions. They took the initiative to raise funds and establish shelters for women and children. Meanwhile, the Kyiv office instantly became a strategic hub for those fleeing the war in the east. From this sincere desire to protect “our own,” the “Safe Space” (Bezpechnyi Prostir) initiative was born.
Olena emphasizes that these locations have become much more than just offices: they are sanctuaries where women are protected from judgment and stigma, accessing free legal, psychosocial, and humanitarian support.
This philosophy of acceptance is the foundation of our daily cooperation with the sex worker community, particularly in frontline cities such as Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. Here, outreach work is a struggle for dignity: from escorting clients to barrier-free gynecological offices to providing motivation for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
“The sex worker community in Ukraine is an example of incredible courage and resilience,” says Olena, stressing that we remain steadfast partners in ensuring the rights of every woman, regardless of her diagnosis or background.
Today, we do more than just submit requests—we engage with the state as equal partners, participating in specialized working groups to make healthcare services truly human-centered. Our expertise is recognized internationally, notably through the preparation of the CEDAW Shadow Report and collaboration with partners such as The Global Fund, UN Women, UNFPA, and UNAIDS.
Moving forward, our major advocacy goals remain clear:
- The decriminalization of HIV transmission (repeal of Article 130 of the Criminal Code).
- The decriminalization of sex work (repeal of Article 181-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
Olena’s advice to aspiring activists today sounds like a manifesto:
“Do not be afraid to be ‘inconvenient’ or ‘uncompromising’ when it comes to protecting human rights. But remember to care for your own resources—to help others, we must first be strong ourselves.”
In the life of our community, there is less sleep, but far more meaning. Because every woman who feels visible and important within our “Safe Space” is our greatest shared victory.
Read the full interview here: https://u.to/XfR8Ig
