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. With a head office in Skopje, STAR-STAR begins mobilizing sex workers across several regions in the Republic of North Macedonia, supporting local leaders and strengthening community members in other cities such as Strumica, Gostivar, Tetovo and Struga. In order to create a favorable environment for the growth and improvement of the community, it includes all sex workers in its activities, regardless of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, social or employment status.
Today, STAR-STAR is an integral part of the civil sector promoting its aspirations nationally and internationally, contributions and needs, striving towards an open society that can recognize, accept and respect diversity and provides equal treatment for all.
STAR-STAR and sex workers do believe that the respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms and the right to freely choose a profession are the core principles on which a healthy, tolerant and democratic society is based.
STAR-STAR is the voice of sex workers in the Republic of North Macedonia.
VISION
STAR-STAR envisions a violence-free world, in which female, transgender and male sex workers engaged in voluntary sex work, live and work freely and the respect of fundamental human rights and freedom are basic principles in a democratic and tolerant society.
MISSION
STAR-STAR is a sex workers’ community-led collective mobilizing the sex workers into active participation of the policy and law making processes concerning sex work and in partnership with all relevant stake-holders monitors the implementation of these processes aiming to secure the respect of sex workers’ rights and freedoms.
VALUES
- Sex workers’ inclusion in the processes of policy creation and decision-making on all organizational levels;
- Solidarity with all of those who share the same commitments, principles and values in the process of creating a democratic and open society;
- Transparency in terms of supporting mechanisms that entail openness and accountability within the frames of the organizational principles, programs and activities;
- Networking and partnership by sharing the rights, duties and responsibilities for reaching the common goals;
- Visibility by means of public operations in the civil society.
GOALS
- Protection, promotion and development of the fundamental human rights for individuals engaged in sex work within the state social, legal and healthcare system;
- Improvement of legal measures targeting male, female and transgender sex workers;
- Improvement of the social environment in which sex workers live and work;
- Improving and acquiring knowledge pertaining to sexual and reproductive health amongst sex workers;
- Enabling easier access for sex workers to healthcare, social and legal services offered by civil associations and state institutions, as well as adapting the existing services in accordance with the sex workers’ needs;
- Organizing activities that promote better care for the general, sexual and reproductive health among sex workers with particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections;
- Intervention and prevention against violence on sex workers;
- Raising the public awareness in terms of accepting sex workers and respecting their human rights and freedoms;
- Developing and establishing cooperation with other civil organizations, associations and foundations locally and internationally.