Nata Isaeva’s story was featured in the November issue of CYPHER by Frontline Defenders, Legalife-Ukraine and SWAN. The CYPHER is a digital comics magazine that advances the organization’s storytelling and narrative framing work.
A cyber-comic based on the personal story of one of the founders and head of the self-organization of sex workers in Ukraine, Natalia Isaeva, tells how it all began, how the human rights movement of sex workers in Ukraine arose, and what role Natalia played in this story.
Maria Sweeney, a freelance illustrator and comic book artist originally from Moldova, who now lives in the United States, took on the idea. Maria graduated summa cum laude from Moore College of Art and Design with a bachelor’s degree in illustrative art.
In July 2020, Front Line Defenders launched Cypher (@cypher_comics on Instagram), a digital comics magazine that advances the organization’s storytelling and narrative framing work in collaboration with and in support of HRDs. Working with artists from around the world, including the award-winning visual storyteller, Beldan Sezen, as creative director, the ’zine is a monthly publication featuring stories of HRDs, their work and the challenges they face.