STAR – The First Sex Collective of Sex Workers in the Balkans, and this year joins the celebration of 14th September – the Sex Worker’s Pride Day. Today we celebrate the power of sex workers and all the successes that have made us proud as a collective of sex workers in the past year in the Republic of North Macedonia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To support the community of sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, STAR initiated a charity campaign to help sex workers in the Republic of North Macedonia who are in a desperate need of financial help, as well as providing them packages with food and hygiene products. STAR has opened a donation account STAR-STAR SKOPJE COVID-19 DONATIONS, in aim to raise funds to help sex workers who are in a really difficult situation.
With the funds raised so far, we have realized a series of humanitarian actions by distributing material aid with food and hygiene products among the community of sex workers. STAR – The First Sex Workers Collective in the Balkans, has also organized a charity online auction “Action for Reaction” of donated works to help and support sex workers in crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic. The charity online event held from 02.06.2020 – 15.06.2020, was organized on the occasion of marking June 2 – The International Sex Workers Day, in order to raise funds to help and support sex workers and their families.
Due to strict legal restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, sex workers face job losses, drastic reductions in clients, and thus a loss of income on which their families depend. Sex workers are excluded from national economic aid measures, and therefore we as a collective of sex workers are committed to protect and help our community.
The initiative to mark International Sex Workers’ Pride Day was launched by the NSWP (The Global Network of Sex Work Projects), and it was first marked in 2019. This day celebrates sex workers’ self-determination and enhanced visibility and show the achievements of sex worker-led organisations.