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STAR

The First Sex Workers Collective in the Balkans

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ABOUT SEX WORK

What is sex work?

Sex work is a voluntary sale of sexual services for money or other material goods between consenting adults.

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.

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The red umbrella – global symbol of sex work

The red umbrella symbolizes the resistance against violence, the weather and human assaults.

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.

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The Sex Workers’ Declaration

The Sex Workers’ Declaration was created by sex workers and organizations dedicated to promoting their human rights and wellbeing.

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.

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declaration

WHO WE ARE

The Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR Skopje was founded in 2010 and is in actual fact a form of self-organized sex workers’ community in the Balkans and is one of a kind in the Republic of North Macedonia. Recognized as STAR – The First Sex Workers Collective in the Balkans, for more than 10 years STAR-STAR’ goal is to advocate for and promote sex workers’ rights within the state social, healthcare and legal system.

In the period between 2007 and 2010, STAR-STAR used to operate as an activists’ movement of a group of young people who shared a common goal – improvement and promotion of sex workers’ rights in the Republic of North Macedonia, therefore actively engaging individuals who are part of the sex industry in the process of implementation of their activities.

In order to promote the importance of the civil sector in the process of democratic management, towards the middle of 2010 STAR-STAR initiated its entry in the Central Registry Office in the Republic of North Macedonia. On 25th May 2010, STAR-STAR was officially registered in the Central Registry Office as Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR Skopje. 

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NEWS

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S-WORK MAGAZINE

S-Work No.123

The 123rd issue of the S-WORK magazine is published and it can be downloaded on this link. The magazine is only available in Macedonian language.

S-Work No.122

The 122nd issue of the S-WORK magazine is published and it can be downloaded on this link. The magazine is only available in Macedonian language.

S-Work No.121

The 121st issue of the S-WORK magazine is published and it can be downloaded on this link. The magazine is only available in Macedonian language.

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CAMPAIGNS

Every year, STAR – The First Sex Workers Collective in the Balkans, joins in the celebration of a few international days important to sex workers community. Joint action and organization of public campaigns, cultural events and marches is a key element in the process of advocating for sex work and raising public awareness for the recognition and promotion of sex workers’ human rights.

September 14th The International Sex Worker Pride Day

Sex Worker Pride Day – This day is celebrated on September 14th each year, and was initiatively launched by NSWP (The Global Network of Sex Work Projects) in 2019. This day celebrates sex workers’ self-determination and enhanced visibility and show the achievements of sex worker-led organisations. Sex Worker Pride extends to all marginalised by criminalisation, discrimination and stigma across the sex worker movement and celebrates the diversity within our community during International Sex Worker Pride.

March 3rd The International Sex Workers’ Rights Day

The International Sex Workers’ Rights Day – This day is celebrated on March 3rd each year to emphasize the importance and need for promotion of sex workers’ human rights, to fight against criminalization and receive legal protection from violence and abuse. This day’s history goes back to 2001, when over 25,000 sex workers gathered in India for a festival organized by a Calcutta-based group called Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (Unstoppable Women’s Synthesis Committee). In 2002, Durbar invited organizations from around the world to join them in commemorating Sex Workers’ Rights Day on March 3rd.

June 2nd The International Sex Workers’ Day

The International Sex Workers’ Day – This day is celebrated on June 2nd each year in Europe and worldwide as a national movement to recognize and acknowledge sex work as a profession. This day’s history goes back to 1975, when over 100 sex workers occupied Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, to express their anger about their criminalised and exploitative living conditions. On 10 June at 5 o’clock the Church was brutally raided by police forces.

December 17th The International Day to STOP Violence against Sex Workers

The International Day to STOP Violence against Sex Workers – This day is celebrated on December 17th each year to call attention to hate crimes committed against sex workers all over the globe. Inaugurated by Dr. Annie Sprinkle and started by the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, the first annual day was in 2003 and was held as a memorial and vigil for the victims of the Green River Killer in Seattle, Washington. The killer said: “I wanted to kill as much as I could. I knew that no one would immediately report them missing, and even maybe they will never be reported. I collected prostitutes because I thought I could kill as much as I want without getting caught.” Gary Leon Ridgway was sentenced to life imprisonment and was fined $ 10,000 for each victim on December 18th, 2003.

PUBLICATIONS

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