If you are interested in helping any of the victims of sex trafficking who appeared in this report, "Sex Slaves," a trust account has been opened by the Canadian production company responsible for the film. The company has been collecting donations and wiring them directly to the victims who appear in the documentary. Should you be interested in helping, you can contact the producers of the film at victimsoftrafficking@apltd.ca for further information.

Dear FRONTLINE,

It is with mixed reaction that I write this note. It was a sobering and deeply moving report on the horrific trade in human suffering. All in all, a damned good investigative report. One that will move many people to action. The producers had the courage to research and chase something that was awful and dangerous and vitally important to share with the world. However they rather missed the trees for the forest an d in doing so missed something very dear indeed.

I was disturbed by the fact that the producers of the program allowed...make no mistake about this point...ALLOWED... Tania's younger brother to die. This is not some damned Nature documentary where it could be construed that by resc uing a young zebra foal from a pack of hyenas, one might upset nature's fragile balance. This was the life of a suffering child, whom if I remember correctly, could have been treated and perhaps saved with a $600 procedure. (Nevermind the fact that Tania was going to prostitute herself in an attempt to pay for the procedure despite having narrowl y escaped from that hell).

To be very honest, I am disgusted nearly as much by the producers of the program as I am by the sex slave traffickers. That's not to say I'm not at least somewhat of a hypocrite myself...you don't see me writing any checks from my arm chair. But I wasn't the one in position at that moment to save a life. It is as though the producers witnessed a drowning and turned their boat around instead of extending an oar.

Perhaps they were concerned with some journalistic ideology of integrity, ethics, story purity, non-intervention...wh atever you want to call it. If you ask me, this is more about journalistic ambition and is about as unethical as it gets.

Ray Weiser
Davenport, IA

FRONTLINE's editors respond:

FRONTLINE regrets that it failed to supply some information in this report and thus created a misimpression concerning Tania's situation and the production team's relationship with her.

The team did in fact give her the money she needed for the operations for her little brother. This is a gray area of journalistic ethics. FRONTLINE'S policy is not to give money to subjects in a film. But it understands the producers' decision to help in a dire situation. We subsequently learned that the operations were not successful, whether due to bad medicine or to the seriousness of his condition.

The focus on her brother may well have created the impression that he was Tania's sole reason for re-prostituting herself. In her interview, Tania explained that she had other family members to support, in addition to her brother, and few opportunities to make the money she needed locally, so she felt that returning to prostitution was her best option. Like so many women who are trafficked, the promise of work abroad for desperately needed money is what initially lured Tania away from home, and it's what took her away from her family a second time, even after experiencing the horrors of Turkey's underground brothels.

Since the film's first airing in Canada and Britain, the production team has set up a trust fund for Tania and the other women for donations made by viewers, and they've helped make sure the money reaches them directly. (Anyone interested in making a donation can write to the producing team: victimsoftrafficking@apltd.ca) And producer Ric Esther Bienstock has been keeping in touch with Tania and the other women who appeared in the film. You will find information about what has happened to them, and how they've been helped, by reading Ms. Bienstock's Washington Post Live Chat that followed the broadcast.

Dear FRONTLINE,

Having just read through the viewer letters that have been posted on the subject of your show entitled, "Sex Slaves", I have to say that I found some of the criticisms almost as disgusting as the subject of your show. While most people were very supportive of the vicitms highlighted, I found it incredulous that some critized the veracity of what these women have been through. I realize we live in a reality TV culture where almost everything that is presented as real is highly produced, but honestly, I cannot - I will not, believe that these women made up being tortured and abused for the benefit of entertainment.

The bigger issue is that women are STILL discounted and treated as though their bodies are on earth for the sole purpose of being used by men. The mentality of, "She asked for it" is still prevalent in the minds of many people and until that attitude changes, even the horrific stories of women who are tortured and treated worse than animals will never be enough to change the situation. One last thing, I know, of course, that not all men are amoral. I noticed that many of the angry comments made were directed at the men who were trafficking these women but in the show, there were many women who were participants.

B. Pak
portland, or

Dear FRONTLINE,

We must realize that the problem is not as simple as depicted in the show. It is a question of supply and demand. As long as men (like myself) will lust over women (and the general media use female images to sell everything from beer to automobiles), there will always be a demand for women who are willingly or unwillingly to work in the sex industry.

I DO think that most of the East European, Asian and South American women are forced to do this against their will - How else would women who don't even have money for food travel from these countries to Western Europe, USA, Canada, etc.!? (Some of my friends who work in the oil industry tell me that Russian girls are available for sex not only to the Rich Arabs, but even to foreign tourists in places like Dubai!)

So how do we solve these problems. Obviously, we can't change human nature (eg., men's libido), or make sure everyone has food to eat. In my opinion, one option would be to legalize the sex industry and remove the "negative" connotations about exploring different sexual themes (Gentlemen's clubs, Adult movies, etc.) If we can't make the demand go away the only option left is to ensure that the supply (in this case Eastern European and women from other countries) is not exploited or left without rights and protection of the law.

David Keller
Dallas, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

I thank the producers of the show for informing people of this terrible evil. I am disappointed in the woman producer who sat on the bed in the hotel room, debating moral issues, as the man's wife was out there in sex traffic hell. Basically she was trying to discuss a moral issue?, which actually sounded more like she was trying to make sure she got a good sound byte for her executive producers, she really didn't get it...This is a human issue.

Before she is a woman, a producer, she is a human. I felt like she was caught up in being over analytical, and the debate sounded like a football game, "making the best call." I am disappointed that she chose this response, but nonetheless I thank the producers for eventually understanding that sometimes stories will go beyond a "journalistic code of ethics", you have to think of the "human code." And in this sense setting up the fund was the right thing to do after being a witness for this evil.

By not doing something about it, rationalizing the stance of "neutrality" is the greatest LIE. You and I know that by not doing something about human injustices, you participate in evil.

Coretta Herod
Smyrna, Georgia

Dear FRONTLINE,

What can I say... it's horrific, it's unexplainable and this is the world we live in today.

I read some other comments and Curtis Miller suggested that the sex trade is voluntary and that these women are not victims. I can assure you that they are victims of the worst kind, people who are either tricked and sold or women who "volunteer" and don't know what they are getting into. Any woman that is willing to sell herself is not doing it out of desire she is doing this as a last resort.

My aunt works time and a half as a teacher in Russia and makes $100, barely enough to scrape by, in Ukraine it is far worse and if their family is dependant on them these women have little opportunity to make any significant money in any other field. Unfortunately Russia, and most other nations of the former Soviet Union, are countries of haves and have nots, and if you have nothing you either lay down and die or you sell your soul to the devil to scrape by... Hopefully with people more aware there will be changes... although I doubt it.

Asya Roseblum
Gainesville, Florida

Dear FRONTLINE,

Did not get a chance to see your movie, but read through the whole site. Very upsetting facts, though so true to our current lives. It's affecting not only Ukrain or Moldova, Central Asian states are also affected, maybe not on the same level.Simple supply and demend is also to blaim.

If there are men, who are willingly paying for such pleasures, it is a lack of moral values, in all of our societies. I personally do not think that ligalizing prostitution would solve this problem.If anyone is interested, watch russian film "Lilya, forever" or "Lily, forever". You might be able to find it in BlockBuster.It's a feature film about a girl with similar situation.

Emil K
LA, California

Dear FRONTLINE,

Tens of thousands young women from the former Soviet Union willingly leave their home to work as prostitutes all around the world. I have no doubt that voluntary prostitution is the most common occupation of expat young women from these countries. To portray even a substantial percentage of these women as sex slaves thoroughly discredits Frontline. The biggest lie since WMD. Shame on you, Frontline.

Yes, an extremely small percentage of these women are forced laborers, just as a very small percentage of underaged children are involved. But, we are talking about very small numbers. C'mon Frontline, there is a huge difference between sex traffic and forced sex trade.

Vancouver, WA

Dear FRONTLINE,

All that I can say is, Wow! This was a great story, and a real eye opener to people who have never seen the real underworld sex slave market. I have been to the eastern Slavic countries, and I know that the poverty level is horrid. These girls have no hopes, and grasp at any oppertunity open to them. This makes them all the easier prey for the truley evil.

The predators can be stopped; only by Judges who hand down death sentence verdicts to all who are convicted of these atrocities. You would see how fast it would stop. It is with my Anglo-Saxon rage that makes one want to go on a Holy Crusade to rid the wicked and save the damsels in distress, but I see my own hereditary homeland has the very enemy that I want to slaughter within its midst. I can only send the victims material consideration to help them.

. I suggest that the U.S. use its power to help Interpol tramp out this scum that prey on the weak. We can all be Knights of the Cross if we would just open our own eyes, and do something anything to end this horror that lurks in front of our eyes. Thanks to Frontline we have no excuses!

Bradd Waln Major, USA(Ret.)

Bradd Waln
Charleston, South Carolina

Dear FRONTLINE,

Like most who watched your powerful "Sex slaves", I found it very disturbing. For those who would like to take some serious action, I suggest you check out the International Justice Mission, http://www.ijm.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=178&srcid=183. Founded by a professional human rights investigator in Kosovo who was frustrated by what wasn't getting done.

Their staff, who are lawyers and law enforcement professionals, work with local non-corrupt officials and non-profit or missionary agencies who know about situations but don't have the ability to rescue the victims. They investigate sex slavery and other forms of modern slavery and actually do rescues of the victims who are trapped and work with non-corrupt local officials to prosecute the criminals behind it. At the moment, they aren't working in the Ukraine but in Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Guatemala, Bolivia, Honduras, Peru and South Asia.

Sherry Weddell
Colorado Springs, CO

Dear FRONTLINE,

It is very obvious to me that this is an educational issue, and what better place than the places of our education (Our Schools).

Everyone seeing this program is the wiser.

Why not have the likes of this program required viewing for children in all educational institutions?

The problem is largely one of education -- as you can attest - when girls and their families wised to to marketing luring ploys the criminals had to move to regional women swearing on the bible to get them to go outside and into captitivty.

Why not just send copies of this DVD to schools along w/ translations?? It is as sophisticated as putting in a DVD.

The situation is largely an educational issue. Putting a lid on the supply starts with education and that education is not that difficult to come by.

Bruce Donnovan
Grand Rapids, Michigan

FRONTLINE's editors respond:

Unfortunately, FRONTLINE was not able to obtain educational audio-visual rights to produce tapes and DVDs of this program for use by educators. The British company that produced the film retains these rights.

Dear FRONTLINE,

One soldier that has been in the military for '30 years' suggesed kicking in doors of pimps versus doors in Iraq. Where is he stationed at? I was in the military for only 3 years and experienced 'the way things are' in S Korea. Women are sold into prostitution, forced to work at bars close to the nearest military base. There are cans of condoms are the the exit gate of each military base, medics regularly test prositutues, and post which bar is off limits.

US Military bases in third world countries CONTRIBUTE to create sex slaves one way or another.

Brian Kneeland
Portland, Oregon

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thanks Frontline for another great,educational,informative show.Continue with the great programming.

Jose O.
L.A., Ca.

Dear FRONTLINE,

I adopted my daughter from Odessa on June 10, 2001. Today she is a beautiful 7 year old with several issues. She spent her first year and half in a 3x3 crib flat on her back. She was deaf and may be autistic. We've been having a rough time over the last few months. I was channel surfing and found the program.

I spent a month there when I adopted her. The country is a third world country. Although in cities people have cell phones the area my daughter is from had horse drawn carriages. Young women give their children up to the orphanages because they have no means to support them. They can't even feed themselves.

There is so much that can be done to help. I'm grateful that documentary aired. I needed to be reminded what my daughter's life could have been like had she remained there.

Jadzia Borenstein
Plantation, Florida

Dear FRONTLINE,

We all want to help these women, but governments need more creative solutions than just imposing more jail time and funding more police efforts.

Of all the trafficking we see on television, we never hear of someone trafficked into the legal brothels in Nevada. We never hear of abuses, beatings, rapes, or coercion there either. Nevada boasts not one single documented case of disease transmission either. Sort of tells you something doesn't it? In Nevada, its a legal, controlled, safe, clean, profitable, enjoyable environment for adults.

The Bush administration has used the human trafficking program to promote an anti-prostitution campaign that serves a conservative religious agenda. Feminists groups have supported it because of their adversarial stance with men, but a real solution has been precluded by thier inflexibilities. Even John Miller, the US State Dept Human Trafficking Director, has said "we should focus our efforts on slavery and not on prostitution"

Abolition of prostitution will never happen. It's a vice far older than drugs or alcohol. Further criminalization and sensationalism of prostitution will just drive it deeper into society where abuses can fester in optimum conditions.

You cannot regulate the demand for prostitution out of existence. It may seem counter-intuitive because of our traditional western mentality, but we may actually have to be allow legal, regulated, controlled prostitution between adults if we truly want protection of women.

No one (or very few) will patronize an illegal, abusive operation when a legal option is available.

Kenneth Lewis
Prairie Village, KS

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am originally from Romania...even from Moldova (Moldova was a region of Romania, that was split by the Soviet Union.) I have been very touched by Vlad's words - not included in the film... I feel they are so true.

After the communist, the poverty and corruption changed people, enhanced their ugliness...that's why I left. The bottom line is poverty drives desperate decisions for both the girls and the traffickers...in the end they are all trying to survive. That's in end what everybody is doing.

I profoundly appreciate that someone took an honest look at that part of the world...

Elena Ochian
Saint Paul, MN

Dear FRONTLINE,

I join everyone here in their horror of these suffering souls. I also want to share with people that in Boston, MA, USA a few days ago brothels in East Boston and Brighton have been shut down.

They employed illegal immigrant women who were forced to service many men a day. Along with the young women also arrested was a 52 yr old woman being used to service men. My heart aches for every one of these poor souls. This is an international problem and we also have it going on right in our backyard. My backyard in particular is the Best Western two streets over that had several arrests for forcing illegal immigrants into human sex slavery. I am definitely going to contact a volunteer group in Boston to try and make a difference. That's all we can do, is try. Any maggot that could peddle the flesh of an innocent person should receive the death penalty. I was horrified at the light sentence Vlad received.

Barbara Muldoon
Boston, ma