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It includes activities of direct physical contact at different scenes (outdoor and indoor), as well as including offering escort services, erotic phone and cam services, pornography, striptease, and online sex services. A sex worker can be a male, female or a transgender individual. 

In the Republic of North Macedonia there are no specific laws regulating sex work. Performing activity related to sex work is considered as a violation of public order and peace: “Whoever engages in prostitution, as well as rents or makes available premises for prostitution will be fined in the amount of 600 to 800 Euros, while some other activities related to sex work (incitement, encouragement, earning from mediation for sexual services) are treated and punished as crimes ”. These are part of a series of selective laws that affect the dignity and human rights of sex workers, increase violence and stigmatization, and create distrust of the institutions.

Although sex work has a long history in almost every culture and society, sex workers often face stigma, discrimination, harassment and violence by the general public and institutions. In the Republic of North Macedonia, sex work is not recognized as any other work, which often forces sex workers to work secretly, not to talk openly about their work, neither with family nor with partners, for fear of being discovered. Sex workers are socially excluded, they face a number of problems that have a negative impact on their lives and work.

It symbolizes the protection of sex workers from abuse by the police, pimps, clients, and society alike.The red color symbolizes love.

The red umbrella was first used by sex workers and their supporters in Venice, Italy in 2001. The so-called First World Congress of sex workers was an art installation created by the Slovenian artist Tadej Pogachar, exhibited within the frames of the 49th Venetian Biennial between the 6th and 8th June 2001.

This was set up in a public area under a tent in the “Prostitutes’ Pavilion” where participants and supporters from Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, Cambodia, Germany, the USA and Austria gathered. They presented the situation in the market and discussed to develop a strategy to fight for sex workers human rights. Activists organized video projections, exhibitions, performances, street theater, and distribution of printed materials.

One of the activities included the Red Umbrella March. Sex workers marched on the streets of Venice using megaphones and red umbrellas in order to direct the attention to the bad working conditions and the violation of their human rights that they have to face on a daily basis.

The march began in front of the tent of the pavilion moving towards the center of the city. The International Committee for Sex Workers’ Rights adopted the red umbrella as a symbol of resistance against discrimination. Everyone is aware of the meaning that the red ribbon bears, therefore, the red umbrella could have the same significance.

The declaration clearly states the list of human rights that every citizen in Europe, including sex workers have in accordance with the International Human Rights Law.

The Declaration states the measures and practices that all its signatories believe are necessary to ensure minimum respect and protection of these rights. These rights have to be respected throughout the process of introducing policies and programs created to deal with human trafficking, irregular migration and terrorism.