HOPS provides direct health, social and legal services to female, male and transgender sex workers, clients, partners, families and children of sex workers. HOPS also works on sensitisation of professionals and media round sex workers issues and advocates for the human rights of sex workers on local, national and regional level.
The community of sex workers is actively involved in the development and implementation of activities within HOPS. Sex workers have paid positions as outreach workers, peer educators, leaders of workshops, and assistants of drop-in centres
Main challenges for sex workers in Macedonia are discrimination and violence. Even although sex work is regulated as misdemeanour, the public treats it as criminal or a very immoral act and consequently punishes sex workers on various levels. Public institutions and MOI don’t make a difference between sex work and exploitation of sex work so they act towards eliminating prostitution instead of eliminating exploitation of sex workers. These acts undermine the dignity and rights of se x workers.
HOPS also works in the field of harm reduction and human rights of drug users and their families. Core activities include needle exchange programmes, comprehensive health, psychological and legal services for drug users, education, research documentation and advocacy for humane and effective drug policies