This year, STAR – the First Sex Workers’ Collective in the Balkans, celebrates its 15-year Red Umbrella March jubilee by the slogan 15-YEAR COLLECTIVE VOICE AGAINST VIOLENCE ON US.
On December 17th – the International Day to Stop Violence Against Sex Workers, in Skopje, we, sex workers alongside with our partners and supporters from HOPS – Healthy Options Skopje, TransFormA and the Coalition Margins, once again join the global marking of this significant day for our community with our traditional Red Umbrella March.
This year’s campaign is dedicated to our 15-year jubilee, by means of a retrospect to all previous Red Umbrella marches, to all our successes, achievements, public messages and pleas, as well as the challenges and problems we have been facing throughout the years in our fight against the violence and discrimination.
The first Red Umbrella March ever took place all the way back on December 17th 2008, organized by the HOPS Association and STAR – an unofficial group back then. In the first three years, the sex workers’ public protests were only symbolic and were held without the media being present, which was due to our profound fear of openly speaking in public about our problems and needs, the fear of prejudice, public judgment and discrimination. As the years went by, we have become more courageous and louder in our fight against violence, stigma and discrimination. We are no longer in hiding within society and we do speak for ourselves.
Today, we are proudly marching in the streets of Skopje, together with numerous allies, activists and supporters.
Today, we proudly advocate for our human, healthcare and labor rights in the face of institutions and the general public.
Today, we demand better and safer working conditions.
Today, we demand a better legislative for sex work in our country
Today, we demand for sex work to be decriminalized.
Therefore, the trials and tribulations do not cease at this point. The challenges we have been facing have made us more dedicated and relentless in our greatest struggle, in our commitment to create better living conditions for all sex workers in the country and to lobby for changes in the laws that target us. Our fight continues until sex work becomes decriminalized, which we consider the best possible outcome for sex work’s legal recognition, which will enable us to exercise our rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws in the Republic of North Macedonia.
This year, the Red Umbrella March Jubilee will be held on December 17th 2022 (Saturday), starting at 12.00h. Traditionally the March will commence at the Mother Theresa Memorial House on Macedonia Street and will end at the Philip II Square.
The December 17th – the International Day to Stop Violence Against Sex Workers campaign is supported by the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia.