Hydra was the first autonomous whores' organisation in Germany, founded in 1980, inspired by the strikes and protests in France from 1975 on. Since 1985 we run a counselling center for sex workers which is financially supported by the city of Berlin.
De-stigmatization, de-criminalization and the recognition of sex work as work are our main topics from the beginning. In 2002 sex work in germany seized to be "contra bonos mores", which means that sex workers can legally earn their money, get insurance and work in brothels. But sex work is not completely de-criminalized in Germany and sex workers face a lot of problems, especially migrant sex workers.
From 2015 on a new law is discussed, which will re-stigmatize in illegalize many forms of sex work in Germany. It will be finalized in summer 2016.
Female* sex workers, also their partners or family, sometimes managers and clients. For male* sex workers, there are other organizations in Berlin.
The Hydra e.V. organization mainly consists of present and former sex workers. Sex workers and non-sex workers are employed at the counselling center.
Stigmatisation, housing, health insurance, getting access to job center support.
Peer-to-peer-workshops in brothels, entrance counselling, counselling for sex workers who want to leave sex work, psychological support, support with job center, administrative, and social security issues, (sexual) health counselling, tax and legal counselling, outreach work, networking on political and administrative level, public relations, lobbying.