Within this year’s campaign, marking 17th December – The International Day to Stop Violence against Sex Workers, we, sex workers, united in STAR – The First Sex Workers Collective in the Balkans, in cooperation with HOPS – Healthy options project Skopje and Coalition MARGINS, have organized the 14th Red Umbrella March in Skopje. Around 100 participants, sex workers, activists and our supporters marched from the Memorial House of Mother Teresa to the square of Philip II, joining the global campaign for solidarity with sex workers. Before the start of the Red Umbrella March, a representative of our community gave a press statement in front of the media, sending a message to the general public and institutions that we sex workers are part of the society and we should equally enjoy the human and labor rights as others:
“The sex workers’ community, as one of the most marginalized, especially in such crisis and difficult times, excluded from government measures for assistance and protection, and without the support of institutions, is here, to emphasize the need for urgent adoption of a new legal framework to regulate sex work in the Republic of North Macedonia and to ask the holders and enforcers of the laws: JUST WHEN DECRIMINALIZATION?
Systemic discrimination has created barriers, so many of us, sex workers, do not have access to health, social and legal services, and thus our rights to protection and support are denied.
Decriminalizing sex work means sex workers are more likely to live without stigma, social exclusion, and fear of violence.
Sex work is not yet legally regulated in the Republic of North Macedonia. Performing a sex-related activity is considered as disturbance of public order and peace, while other sex-related activities are treated and punished as criminal offences. In such conditions, we as a marginalized community are not able to work in safe conditions, which negatively affects our general well-being.
Therefore, we demand an immediate decriminalization of sex work in the country and a recognition of the human and labour rights of the world’s oldest workers.
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization respects human rights and dignity;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization helps guard against violence and abuse;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization challenges police abuse and violence;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization improves access to justice;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization challenges the consequences of having a criminal record;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization improves access to health services;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization reduces risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization promotes safe working conditions;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization allows for effective responses to trafficking;
- We demand decriminalization of sex work, because decriminalization challenges state control over bodies and sexuality.
The Republic of North Macedonia, as a country aspiring to join the European Union, has an obligation to ensure equal respect for human rights and freedoms and the promotion of democracy. Hence, we want to be recognized by the institutions and involved in the process of creating the best legal solution to regulate our work, starting with amendments to Article 191 of the Criminal Code and Article 19 of the Law on Misdemeanors Against the Public Order.”
The press and the Red Umbrella March were entirely covered by the media:
https://www.24.mk/details/seksualnite-rabotnici-so-crveni-chadori-kje-marshiraat-na-ulica-makedonija
https://kanal5.com.mk/nov-marsh-stari-baranja/a508238
https://fokus.mk/marsh-na-tsrvenite-chadori-seksualnite-rabotnitsi-na-ulitsa-foto/
https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/balkan-59702435
In addition, please check this year’s Red Umbrella March photos by Vanco Dzambaski at the following link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fosim/albums/72177720295342864
As part of this year’s campaign, we also promoted the video of the working POP-UP dinner held between sex workers and high representatives from state institutions on 18.05.2021, discussing all the problems that arise from sex work criminalization, the stigma and discrimination that sex workers have to fight against on a daily basis, as well as the urgent need for decriminalization of sex work in North Macedonia.
You can watch the video at the following link:
The implementation of the campaign to celebrate 17th December – The International Day to Stop Violence against Sex Workers is funded by Foundation Open Society – Macedonia.