Macedonian sex workers protest to demand decriminalization as antidote to violence · Global Voices
Red Umbrella March in Skopje, December 17, 2018. Photo by <PERSON>, CC BY-NC-SA. Part of an Creative Commons-licensed album of 186 photos.
On December 17th, sex workers, strippers, hotline operators and human rights activists from Macedonia held the 11th annual “Red Umbrella March” in Skopje to mark the International Day to Stop Violence Against Sex Workers.
The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is observed on December 17 by sex workers, their advocates, friends, families, and allies. The day calls attention to hate crimes committed against sex workers worldwide, as well as the need to remove the social stigma and discrimination that have contributed to violence against them and indifference from the communities they are part of.
The Macedonian march was organized by STAR-STAR, the first sex workers collective in the Balkans as part of a global show of solidarity with this social group who are fighting against violence and discrimination. 739
The participants announced:
Со пораката: “ДЕКРИМИНАЛИЗАЦИЈА СЕГА!“ ги охрабруваме институциите и стручната јавност да го отворат прашањето за регулација на сексуалната работа. Ние и сексуалните работници сметаме дека декриминализацијата на сексуалната работа претставува најдобра политика за унапредување на здравјето, благосостојбата и човековите права на сексуалните работници. Овие заложби се засноваат врз потребите на сексуалните работници за заштита на нивните права, за создавање на безбедните услови за живот и работа, како и превенција од насилство и експлоатација.
We would like to send a message: “DECRIMINALIZATION NOW!” and encourage the institutions and general public to open the issue about regulation of sex work. Sex workers think that the decriminalization of sex work is the best policy for improving the health, well-being and human rights of sex workers. These efforts are based on the needs of sex workers to ensure protection of their human rights, to create safe living and working conditions, and prevent violence and exploitation.
The march took place in the center of Macedonian capital, with some of the participating sex workers wearing face masks and revealing outfits, shouting slogans such as “sex work is work.” This phrase has become an international hashtag ( # SexWorkIsWork ) which is promoted by Sex Workers Outreach Project USA.
Sex workers are some of the most creative, strong, lovely people I've known. 278