Bliss Without Risk (Rozkos bez Rizika), SWAN member from Czech Republic organized a number of activities in December 2008 targeting general population and sex workers. Among them were press conference, an open day event, party for sex workers, and distribution of materials by an outreach vehicle.

UHRA, SWAN member from Ukraine organized a media campaign and press conference to mark the campaign. "We do not demand special rights for sex workers. We demand provision of basic constitutional rights and freedoms and an end to violence," said Irina Mishina of UHRA.

December 17 campaign sparked media interest in the situation sex workers experience in other countries in the region. Several Serbian media noted the red umbrella march and exhibition in Skopje and commented on forced STI testing action in November.  Macedonian media on their side reported about issues sex workers face in Albania.

Macedonian media reported that “more then 30 international NGOs criticized Macedonian governments’ action” in which in November last year a number of alleged sex workers were detained, involuntarily tested and their identities released to the media.

Last November Russian TV station 100TV devoted its Freedom Bridge show to sex work issues. One of the guests in the studio was Irina Maslova from Humanitarian Action, SWAN member from Russia. The viewers voted on the question Do you consider prostitution to be a profession? The result: 4,299 said YES and 4,294 NO.

PR News, US
January 9, 2009

Calls on Obama and Biden to Develop Alternative Approaches
NEW YORK-- A new report concludes that so-called "rescue" raids are not an effective way to stop trafficking in persons and in fact can be counter-productive.

Taipei Times, Taiwan
January 6, 2009

Several sex worker advocacy groups yesterday staged a protest in front of the Ministry of the Interior, demanding that the government decriminalize prostitution and enact a new law to protect the right to sex among consenting adults.

The Independent, UK
December 30, 2008

Charities must overcome the disapproval of a conservative society to teach prostitutes about safe sex More

Nyasa Times, Malawi
January 8, 2009

With poverty which has hit the former regional food basket for SADC countries, the home of Comrade Bob Mugabe, the one time friend of the late Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley, there has been a flock of sexual workers from Zimbabwe into its neighboring countries.

SFBayTimes.com, USA
January 9, 2009

The Web site GayRussia.ru posted its list of the top news stories of 2008. Domestically, the portal cited the end of the ban on blood donation by gay people, Moscow’s third gay pride events, and the aborted gay film festival in St. Petersburg.