“We’re Not Prostitutes”
Four activists of FEMEN occupied the balcony of residence of the Ambassador of India in Ukraine in protest against an Indian foreign policy
Text and photo: FEMEN
The activists unfurled banners on the balcony: “We’re not prostitutes,” shouting “Delhi, close the brothels,” “The Ukrainians are not prostitutes!” and “We demand an apology.” The four activists were arrested and taken to the police station.
The action was directed against the official policy of the Foreign Ministry of India, which has urged their ambassady in the CIS countries to scan women aged 15 to 40 years, who are traveling to India. Thus, the official Delhi wants to insulate itself from the invasion of post-Soviet women, allegedly responsible for the rapid development of India’s sex industry.
FEMEN believes that the Indian Foreign Ministry insulted women describing them as potential prostitutes. The problem of prostitution in India is not dependent on women from Ukraine, Russia or Kazakhstan, but rather it is associated with the impunity of criminal activity within India. Blaming the problem of prostitution of women - patriarchal relic unworthy heirs of the ancient and rich culture.
In fairness, it should be noted that the shameful practice of distrust and suspicion to the young Ukrainian woman traveling abroad, operates in many foreign embassies. Every day, hundreds of Ukrainian women who are trying to get visas, forced to undergo humiliating procedure of justification, proving to officials that they are not whores. Such testing not only humiliate the person, but the nation as a whole. Ukraine is not a brothel! Ukrainian women are not prostitutes!
The action was directed against the official policy of the Foreign Ministry of India, which has urged their ambassady in the CIS countries to scan women aged 15 to 40 years, who are traveling to India. Thus, the official Delhi wants to insulate itself from the invasion of post-Soviet women, allegedly responsible for the rapid development of India’s sex industry.
FEMEN believes that the Indian Foreign Ministry insulted women describing them as potential prostitutes. The problem of prostitution in India is not dependent on women from Ukraine, Russia or Kazakhstan, but rather it is associated with the impunity of criminal activity within India. Blaming the problem of prostitution of women - patriarchal relic unworthy heirs of the ancient and rich culture.
In fairness, it should be noted that the shameful practice of distrust and suspicion to the young Ukrainian woman traveling abroad, operates in many foreign embassies. Every day, hundreds of Ukrainian women who are trying to get visas, forced to undergo humiliating procedure of justification, proving to officials that they are not whores. Such testing not only humiliate the person, but the nation as a whole. Ukraine is not a brothel! Ukrainian women are not prostitutes!
FEMEN
FEMEN (Ukrainian:Фемен) is a Ukrainian protest group based in Kiev, founded in 2008. The organisation became internationally known for organizing topless protests against sex tourists, international marriage agencies, sexism and other social, national and international ills. Some of the goals of the organisation are:
"To develop leadership, intellectual and moral qualities of the young women in Ukraine" and "To build up the image of Ukraine, the country with great opportunities for women".
As of late April 2010 the organisation is contemplating becoming a political party to run for seats in the next Ukrainian parliamentary election.
History
The movement was founded in 2008 by Anna Hutsol (born 1983, most FEMEN members are younger) after she became attuned to the sad stories of Ukrainian woman duped by false promises from abroad:
"I set up FEMEN because I realised that there was a lack of women activists in our society; Ukraine is male-oriented and women take a passive role."
Since then the organization has staged noticeable erotically-flavored rallies (among others) near the building of the Cabinet of Ministers, at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the Turkish embassy in Ukraine and in front of the Iranian embassy to oppose the expected execution of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
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