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PROBLEM AND OUTDATED LAW
Article 181-1 of Ukraine’s Administrative Offences Code imposes fines on “engaging in prostitution,” a punitive remnant of outdated policy. Worldwide, consensual sex work is increasingly treated as a health and human rights issue rather than a crime. Criminalizing sex workers drives them underground and strips away legal protections. As Amnesty International warns, such bans “make sex workers less safe” and give abusers impunity, while keeping workers “too scared… to report” crimes[1].

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONSEQUENCES
Criminalization has severe consequences. Health: WHO notes that decriminalizing sex work could reduce new HIV infections among sex workers by roughly 46% over 10 years[2]. In contrast, UNAIDS warns that punitive laws block access to HIV prevention and care, fueling the epidemic[3][4]. Safety: Amnesty International documents “horrific human rights abuses” against sex workers in criminalized settings[5]. Those who sell sex often face violence and extortion but fear seeking help[6]. By contrast, jurisdictions with decriminalization see safety gains: for example, New South Wales (Australia) found that reform “improved human rights; removed police corruption; and enhanced the safety” of sex workers[7]. Rights and discrimination: Sex workers endure stigma and rights violations. LGBTQ+ sex workers are especially vulnerable to double stigma. Reports show LGBTQ+ workers are often denied services by health providers due to prejudice[8], further limiting their access to vital care (including HIV prevention)[8].

INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
UN human rights experts advocate for the full decriminalization of sex work based on international standards. Leading health and rights bodies unanimously call for decriminalization. Amnesty International: adopted a policy endorsing full decriminalization of consensual sex work, noting that punitive laws leave sex workers vulnerable and unable to seek protection[1]. WHO: in its global HIV guidelines for key populations it urges removal of “punitive laws, policies and practices” concerning sex work[9]. Modeling shows this approach could dramatically cut HIV transmission in sex work populations[2]. UNAIDS: the UN AIDS program emphasizes that criminalizing key populations (including sex workers) undermines testing and treatment goals, and identifies decriminalization as critical to ending the AIDS epidemic[3][4].

EXAMPLES OF DECRIMINALIZATION

• New Zealand: After full decriminalization in 2003, sex workers reported markedly improved working conditions, greater confidence in asserting their rights, and better cooperation with police[10].
• Australia (New South Wales): A government review found that decriminalization “improved human rights; removed police corruption; and enhanced the safety” of the sex industry[7].
• Other countries: In the Netherlands, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe, legalization or strict regulation of sex work has enabled protection of workers’ rights, labor protections and health oversight while reducing black-market risks.

CALL TO ACTION
We urge Ukraine’s President, government and parliament to repeal Article 181-1 without delay and adopt an evidence-based approach grounded in human rights and public health. The current law empowers abuse, drives sex work underground and hampers HIV prevention. Decriminalization will let sex workers safely access health and social services, work with law enforcement to report violence, and strengthen overall community health. International experts note that decriminalizing sex work does not increase trafficking; on the contrary, it helps expose abuse and protect victims[11].

Sources: [1] [5] [6] Amnesty International publishes policy and research on protection of sex workers’ rights - Amnesty International
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/amnesty-international-publishes-policy-and-research-on-protection-of-sex-workers-rights/
[2] [9]  Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes 
https://www.who.int/teams/global-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-programmes/populations/sex-workers
[3] [4] Save lives: decriminalize - UNAIDS
https://www.unaids.org/en/topic/decriminalization
[7] [10] [11] Sex Workers Welcome UN Experts’ Backing to Decriminalize the Industry - The Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW)
https://gaatw.org/news/1316-sex-workers-welcome-un-experts-backing-to-decriminalize-the-industry
[8] The Homophobia and Transphobia Experienced by LGBT Sex Workers - NSWP
https://www.nswp.org/sites/default/files/bp_homophobia_transphobia_mpact_nswp_-_2018.pdf

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The text of this petition was prepared by HPLGBT under the FCLF — Flexible Community-Led Fund program and coordinated with the national sex-workers’ self-organization in Ukraine, the CO “Legalife-Ukraine”.

 

The content of this material/product does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of HPLGBT or of the FCLF partners, and does not imply their endorsement.

 

PRIMARY SOURCE: www.HPLGBT.org/publish/Petition_STOP-181.1_en.pdf