ПРОЦЕНКА НА ПОТРЕБИТЕ НА МЛАДИТЕ СЕКСУАЛНИ РАБОТНИЦИ ВО ОДНОС НА ЗДРА Проценка на потребите на младите сексуални работни | Page 22

YOUNG SEX WORKERS’ NEEDS ASSESSMENT RELATED
TO HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES
1. INTRODUCTION
In the Republic of Macedonia, young sex workers, females in particular, are faced with
major difficulties in terms of access to healthcare, social and legal services, which
directly results from the discrimination and marginalization of this group. The improper
availability and the inadequacy of SRH (Sexual and Reproductive Health) services, as
well as the inadequacy or the untimely social and legal aid, which young sex workers
desperately require, results in the increase in STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
incidence, lowering the quality of life, failure to recognize their status in society and
unsuitable working conditions. In Macedonia, young sex workers most commonly
receive healthcare, social and legal services by civil organizations, whereas the same
are rather limited and more difficult to obtain in public institutions. The difficult access
to services in public institutions results from young sex workers’ lack of knowledge of
their existence in the public sector, the fear of potential discrimination by employed
professionals, as well as the poor quality of those services. With the limited access to
healthcare, social and legal services, the risk of incidents of violence, discrimination
and serious threats to the life and health of young sex workers exponentially rise.
1.1 Right to Health
The access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, which encompasses
services for prevention against HIV/AIDS, STIs and general healthcare services, is
the vital component for sex workers’ health based on their fundamental human
rights. The public healthcare programs and the creators of healthcare policies rarely
take sex workers’ needs into consideration. On the other hand, discrimination and
stigma seriously hinder their access to comprehensive healthcare programs in
public institutions. The NGO sector does provide certain SRH services, however,
the number of services that could cater for specific subgroups is rather limited,
which includes services for male sex workers and transgender sex workers,
which additionally contributes to their vulnerability and marginalization.
1.2 Right to Legal Aid
The legal services are an essential component of sex workers’ fundamental human
rights. The legal aid enables sex workers to seek and demand their human rights.
Sex workers require legal aid in terms of day-to-day legal challenges, the likes of
which include court representation and support in cases of violence, physical and
mental abuse in front of institutions, as well as counseling and representation of
sex workers related to their rights and demands. Sex workers who are faced with
violence, most frequently seek aid by legal professionals employed by the civil
organizations, who selflessly guide them throughout the entire process pro bono.
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