"Here they can help me." The story of a sex worker from Moldova who was able to believe in herself and today dreams of changing her life

She was led into this business by a friend. Promising easy money and a glamorous life, her acquaintance helped Oxana move to another country. Upon arrival, it became apparent that the job involved selling sex to clients in nightclubs. "At first, it was wild, unpleasant, and unfamiliar. However, over time, you get used to everything. My friend explained to me what needed to be done, and I listened to her. That's how I ended up here," Oxana clarifies.

The woman tells that she wanted to get far away from home, as she grew up in a fatherless family and her mother was constantly drinking alcohol and paid no attention to her daughter. In protest, Oxana would often run away from home. "I didn't see myself in anything, I had no education, and no one took care of me. No one explained to me that there is another life out there where you are respected, loved, and accepted for who you are." After ten years of working abroad, Oxana returned to her homeland. Here, she found love and gave birth to a child, but the couple broke up when Oxana's daughter was barely a year old. This forced the young mother to go back to work again. "Please understand that people don't enter the sex industry because their life is good. I work to provide for my child, to ensure that she lacks nothing, and to give her everything that I didn't have when I was growing up," the woman explains.

Loneliness and constant stress due to the fear of someone finding out about Oxana's source of income took a toll on her mental health and led her into a state of depression. "I could spend days lying at home, nothing brought me joy. One day, a friend invited me to a non-governmental organization called "Union for Equity and Health". She said that we could chat, have tea, and watch an interesting movie there, and I agreed. Today, I can confidently say - they can help me here."

Since then, the woman has been regularly attending support groups held in a safe space as part of the project "Empower community of sex workers and other key population groups to overcome intersecting forms of discrimination, including HIV-related and gender-based discrimination".

Ala Iațco, the president of the organization "Union for Equity and Health" highlights the positive dynamics of this project, which has already reached over 200 sex workers. "We have noticed that women within the community have come together, paying more attention to the quality and style of communication with each other. With each project meeting, the number of participants continues to grow, and this brings us joy," says Ala Iațco. "We teach them not to be consumers of life but to find a balance between what they receive and what they give in return. We also teach them self-love, love for their bodies, and taking care of their health and psychological well-being." Within the project, psychologists, social assistants, and paralegals work with the girls for free. Each participant can request an individual consultation to ensure complete anonymity throughout the process.

"You know, people here can be quite mean. When they see a beautiful girl walking down the street, they can start insulting you or even threaten you. But the truth is, no one knows what is happening in your soul at that moment. For example, it's very difficult for me when I come back to my child after work and realize that someday she will still find out what her mother does. Thanks to working with a psychologist, I have become more confident in myself and have already started planning how I can leave this job and find employment in the future," confesses Oxana. "I believe that I can make it because I am slowly beginning to believe in my own abilities and in myself. I hope that in the near future, I will be able to acquire a profession and finally start a new life from scratch."

According to official data in Moldova, the sex worker community is one of the most stigmatized. There is no specialized organization in the country that provides support and advocates solely for the interests of this key population. However, according to modeled statistics, over 15,000 people are involved in the sex industry in Moldova, which is illegal according to the law. Oxana points out that the fact that selling sex for money is prohibited by law adds even more stigma to those involved in it. "Girls are afraid to say too much, they are afraid to ask for help, and they often blame themselves for making mistakes. They have low self-esteem, which makes it difficult to say no when it is really necessary. Many of them experience violence from clients," confesses Oxana.

Her words are supported by statistics, which indicate that sex workers have a 45 to 75% chance of encountering various forms of violence in their work. Many are unable to resist because they are unaware of their right to protection. That's why, according to Oxana, it is crucial for sex workers to have access to quality psychological and legal counseling services, as well as education and mentorship programs that help them understand what they can do in life besides sex work.

"I really want to have a family and stop being afraid. And I also want my daughter to be proud of her mother, to see me as an example for others. She deserves that," concludes Oxana.

*Note: The name of the heroine has been changed at her request.