penalization of sex work would contribute to major improvements in terms
of their healthcare insurance, peace, non-violence and the workplace; 25% of
interviewees think that the situation would not change at all, and only a small
number of them believe that the situation would deteriorate.
Different feedback was received on the question related to the willingness
of accepting sex work as a normal profession even amongst the general
population, therefore making it a legitimate and legal career choice by
which sex workers will no longer have an unemployment status. 33% of the
interviewees believe that an entirely new legal framework must be put forward
by which sex workers’ employment would be clearly regulated and ensure that
there would be no negative consequences once the unemployment status is
lost. The majority of the interviewees, i.e. 37%, believe that employment of
sex workers as such would be impossible considering the specifications of the
job itself, and the loss of unemployment status would be unfounded. A part of
them, however, had an affirmative attitude towards this question, even more,
they believe that anyone from the general population should be given the
chance to do this job legally as it a job just like any other.
Additionally we have asked the following question: “In Holland sex work
contributes with 5% of the money that their Government collects from
taxes. Do you think that the same can be achieved in Macedonia?” 56% of
the interviewees think that the contribution would be substantial, and a
significant number of them, i.e. 33% think that the Government should seek
other approaches to attain the same. The rest of the interviewees believe that
it would result in tax contribution, but it would not be necessary. 40% of the
interviewees believe that in case sex work is legalized, the number of sexually
transmitted infections cases will substantially decrease, and a significant 15%
of them believe that nothing will change in the least. A very small percentage
of them think that the number of sexually transmitted infections will increase.
When asked “The experience from countries where sex work is legalized has
shown that after the legalization of sex work the cases of human trafficking
have increased. What do you think will happen in Macedonia?” 55% of our
interviewees think that the situation will remain the same and 29% of them
think that human trafficking incidence would decrease. The remaining part, i.e.
12% believe that after the legalization human trafficking incidence will increase
the same way it did in the countries where sex work was legalized.
The awareness of the importance of cooperation with the police in the battle
against human trafficking and the greater awareness for support within the
community was clearly shown when the following question was asked: “Would
you as a sex worker help the police in their fight against human trafficking if
you knew that a certain sex worker is forced to their job?” 49%of them gave
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