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Ukraine’s sex workers are counting
on the country hosting the Euro 2012 soccer championship to bring in clients
and cash. Concurrently, however, AIDS advocates are issuing stark reminders
that the nation has the highest HIV infection rate in Eastern Europe.
Hundreds of thousands of fans are
expected for the games, which begin June 8 in Warsaw, Poland, and end in Kiev,
Ukraine’s capital. According to the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Ukraine is
home to between 52,000 and 83,000 sex workers - 11,000 in Kiev alone. Other
eastern Ukraine tournament venues in Donetsk and Kharviv have some 3,000 sex
workers, while Lviv is home to nearly 2,500.
UNAIDS reports upwards of 350,000
Ukrainians age 15 and over are HIV-positive. Further, a 2011 study by the
International HIV/AIDS Alliance asserts that 24 percent of prostitutes in Kiev
and 38 percent of those in Donetsk are HIV-positive.
One Ukrainian sex website claims
Kiev prostitutes are even attempting to gain a competitive edge by studying the
histories of participating nations, as well as the basics of soccer. Although
Kiev prostitutes and brothels contacted by Agence France Presse said they
realize the risks and use condoms, only 60 percent rule out unprotected sex.
Others, as many as 22 percent according to 2010 survey data, are willing to
forgo condom use for an added fee.
Fearing a rise in sex tourism
related to Euro 2012, Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN is waging a campaign
saying “Ukraine is not a brothel.”
European soccer’s governing body,
UEFA, also has launched a campaign championing condom use. “Show HIV and AIDS
the red card. The HIV virus doesn’t play fair, so you have to,” says the
campaign.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
