Sex workers in Skopje, capital of Macedonia, issued this winter first two numbers of a community newsletter entitled “From us to us”.

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As its title suggests, the newsletter is written by sex workers and for sex workers and tackles community life, daily issues and problems. The writers and editors are members of the sex workers’ self-support group STAR established a year ago.

Since then, the group engaged in many activities. Last year, year for the International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers, they circulated SWAN petition about sex worker rights, and on the steps of Macedonian Parliament opened red umbrellas (the international symbol for sex worker rights).

The newsletter was launched after the participation of the STAR representatives at the seminar on community newsletter production and distribution organized by SWAN in June this year in Belgrade.

Says David, the editor of the newsletter: “There is a big number of sex workers in Macedonia who live stigmatized, in fear of violence and discrimination. Violence and discrimination come from the police, health institutions, centers for social work and from a part of the general population who all engage in verbal, psychological and physical violence against us.

That is a result of the lack of mechanisms for protection of basic human rights and freedoms of sex workers.

For that reason a year ago we created our support group STAR, which will fight for our rights by breaking the silence. This newsletter is very important for that fight.”

The first issue was released in October and, following the big interest among sex workers, the next followed already in November. The November issue brings an interview with Natalia, sex worker from Skopje, article “What are our rights”, story from opening a monument to sex workers in Amsterdam, presentation of a drop-in center in Skopje, combined with fun topics like erotic horoscope, tips about contraception, how to keep your skin look good, what are condoms in spray, all combined with short reports about sex work-related topics from abroad.

Being interactive is a very important for the newsletter editors. Sex workers are invited to submit their stories, poetry and photography, and each issue brings a coupon for questions that can be filled out and submitted by email or in hard copy to HOPS. In each issue 2-3 questions are selected and answered by specialists in human rights, health, etc.

Layout is designed by a professional graphic designer who is a friend. Newsletter is printed out on an in-house computer printer and distributed to sex workers on the streets, in the drop-in center, in the offices of HOPS, SWAN member from Macedonia, and by the sex worker outreach vehicle managed by HOPS.

Newsletter is supported by HOPS, SWAN and SHARP.

STAR contact: sexworkers_mk@yahoo.com

Editor of the newsletter: David, bellman1984_sk@yahoo.com