The campaign started on December 17 at 7 PM in front of the Macedonian TV in Skopje, by a symbolic red umbrella opening action Rights, not violence. HOPS, SWAN member from Macedonia and Star, organization for self-support of sex workers, distributed some 150 red umbrellas and invited guests, friends and supporters of sex workers to the event. 

The group then marched through the city center to the Cultural Center Tocka where at 8 PM a multimedia exhibition My Body My Choice was opened.  It featured photography, music, and text messages. The photography presented violation of human rights of sex workers and various types of sex work. That was “covered” by audio messages on human rights and sex workers’ rights in Macedonian, English, Russian, Serbian, and Bulgarian languages.

“The exhibition was well visited, and that gives us a hope that the awareness about the need to protect human rights of sex workers will raise among Macedonian citizens”, says Maria Tosheva of HOPS.

On December 17 Star released a song Sex Workers’ Army. Says human rights activist Martin Karadafov: “We had an excellent support from our friends without whom the song would not be possible.  I wrote the lyrics, a Macedonian musician composed the music, and we got free studio time to record it.”  The song can be downloaded here.

Star also released the third issue of the newsletter From us to Us, devoted to December 17. See a separate story about it here.

Last but not least, postcards and poster have been prepared by Star, featuring the campaign slogans: Sex work is work, Rights not violence and Violence is not in anyone’s job description. Cards and poster can be seen here.

Macedonian media devoted significant coverage to the campaign activities and its messages.

More information:

Marija Toseva, HOPS, marijat@hops.org.mk  
STAR contact: sexworkers_mk@yahoo.com