The Red Thread (De Rode Draad)
Encyclopedia
The Red Thread is an advocacy-support group for prostitutes in the Netherlands
. The group aims to bring legitimacy to the prostitution
industry by seeking regulation via labour and employment law
s and by working against the stigmatization
of prostitutes, considering prostitution a valid choice. The group also works for prostitutes' access to health care
.
The group was formed in 1985 by former members of the prostitution industry. It is subsidized by the Dutch government as a measure of HIV
/AIDS
prevention. Since 1988 they have published a magazine, Blacklight, written by and for prostitutes. While they don't self-identify as a feminist
group, they sympathize with sex-positive feminism
.
The group closely collaborates with the union FNV
which has accepted prostitutes as members since the full legalization of brothels in the Netherlands 2000.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The group aims to bring legitimacy to the prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
industry by seeking regulation via labour and employment law
Labour and employment law
Labour law is the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which address the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people and their organizations. As such, it mediates many aspects of the relationship between trade unions, employers and employees...
s and by working against the stigmatization
Social stigma
Social stigma is the severe disapproval of or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society.Almost all stigma is based on a person differing from social or cultural norms...
of prostitutes, considering prostitution a valid choice. The group also works for prostitutes' access to health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
.
The group was formed in 1985 by former members of the prostitution industry. It is subsidized by the Dutch government as a measure of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
prevention. Since 1988 they have published a magazine, Blacklight, written by and for prostitutes. While they don't self-identify as a feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
group, they sympathize with sex-positive feminism
Sex-positive feminism
Sex-positive feminism, also known as pro-sex feminism, sex-radical feminism, or sexually liberal feminism is a movement that began in the early 1980s...
.
The group closely collaborates with the union FNV
Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging
The Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands.-History:...
which has accepted prostitutes as members since the full legalization of brothels in the Netherlands 2000.
See also
- A Vindication of the Rights of WhoresA Vindication of the Rights of WhoresA Vindication of The Rights of Whores, is an anthology edited by Gail Pheterson with a preface by Margo St. James.The book consists of the voices of a diverse group of prostitutes, Sex worker's rights activists and feminist scholars from around the world, discussing their lives and their...
- COYOTECOYOTECOYOTE, or Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics, is an American sex worker activist organization. COYOTE's goals include the decriminalization of prostitution, pimping and pandering, as well as the elimination of social stigma concerning sex work as an occupation.Though it is frequently described as a...
- International Committee for Prostitutes’ RightsInternational Committee for Prostitutes’ RightsThe International Committee for Prostitutes’ Rights emerged out of the prostitutes' rights movement starting in the mid 1970s. The ICPR adopted the World Charter for Prostitutes' Rights in 1985 in response to feminist arguments that all prostitution is forced prostitution...
- International Day to End Violence Against Sex WorkersInternational Day to End Violence Against Sex WorkersInternational Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is observed annually on 17 December by Sex workers, their advocates, friends, families and allies....
- Margo St. JamesMargo St. JamesMargo St. James , a self-described prostitute and sex-positive feminist, founded the organization COYOTE , which advocates decriminalization of prostitution.-History:...
- Prostitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the NetherlandsProstitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal. In the last few years, a significant number of brothels and "windows" have been closed because of suspected criminal activity...
- Sex worker rightsSex worker rightsThe term sex worker rights encompasses a variety of aims being pursued globally by individuals and organizations that specifically involve the human and labor rights of sex workers....
- Sex workerSex workerA sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry. The term is usually used in reference to those in the sex industry that actually provide such sexual services, as opposed to management and staff of such industries...
- World Charter for Prostitutes' RightsWorld Charter for Prostitutes' RightsThe World Charter for Prostitutes' Rights is a declaration of rights adopted in 1985 to protect the rights of prostitutes worldwide. It was adopted by the International Committee for Prostitutes’ Rights .-The charter:...