Legislative support against sexual exploitation in Ukraine

Abstract

Every person has rights such as life and health, honor and dignity, but unfortunately, they are violated during the whole time of existence of society and the state. The most shameful encroachment on these rights should include the offences of sexual exploitation. Hundreds of such crimes are registered every year, and behind them are people’s lives, mental and physical health which are quite essential and often incorrigible. The work of law enforcement and public authorities, and other entities, combating sexual exploitation should be carried out strictly in compliance with the requirements of national legislation. The wide range of international treaties, laws of Ukraine and regulatory documents, which are discussed in this article regulate various aspects of this work. The world community has been carrying out various activities to combat the sexual exploitation for a long time and this is reflected in their contracts. Nowadays, the United Nations, which focuses on the protection of human rights, including sexual exploitation, plays the leading role in law process. In Europe, the international documents in this field are taken within the Council of Europe. In the established order Ukraine joins to the international laws which regulated certain aspects of combating sexual exploitation. Each of these laws has their own characteristics, which are determined by the author. The criminal code of Ukraine does not define a separate crime of sexual exploitation, however, provides for liability for crimes related to it. Firstly this includes human trafficking, the purpose of which is the sexual exploitation (article 149), the importation, manufacture, sale and distribution of pornographic materials (article 301), the establishment or maintenance of places of debauchery and procurement (article 302), pimping or involvement of a person in prostitution (article 303). The author pays attention to the fact that in Ukraine there is no special law on the prevention of sexual exploitation, but the legal relations in this sphere are regulated by other laws. This is the Laws of Ukraine «On protection of public morality» and «On combating human trafficking». This last one also covers issues related to assistance to victims of such illegal activity.