The Red Thread (De Rode Draad)

The Red Thread (De Rode Draad)

The Red Thread (De Rode Draad in Dutch) 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 laws 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.

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