![handle is hein.unl/twcrf0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
f[Distributed to the Council, the
Members of the League and the
Delegates at the Assembly.]
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
GENEVA,
September 12th, 1923.
TRAFFIC IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
REPORT OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE TO THE ASSEMBLY.
(Rapporteur: M. SOKAL.)
The Fifth Committee had before it the report of the Council and that of the Advisory
Committee on the Traffic in Women and Children made after its second session in March
last, and expressed its appreciation of the record of steady progress contained in this latter
report. The appointment of a representative of the United States of America on the Advi-
sory Committee was noted with much satisfaction.
The Committee, while considering in detail the resolutions passed by the Advisory
Committee, and in the light of the work of the Council of the League in this connection
noted with satisfaction that the resolutions of the Advisory Committee were approved by
the Council in all essential points. The Committee desires to offer some observations on
the following matters : -
1. The Committee observes with regret that, at the date of the meeting of the fourth
Assembly, only the following fourteen States had ratified the Convention of 1921: Australia,
Austria, Belgium, British Empire, Canada, Cuba, Greece, India, New Zealand, Norway,
Portugal, Roumania, Siam and South Africa. Three States, viz., Denmark, Finland and
Panama, had adhered to the Convention. In view of the fact that the Fifth Committee was
able to report last year that thirty-three States had signed the Convention, the slow progress in
the deposit of ratifications is not satisfactory. From some of the statements made by dele-
gates, it appears that in some cases the delay has been caused by the necessity of amending
internal legislation in order to comply with the provisions of the Convention and that there
is a likelihood of further ratifications being deposited at an early date. It is to be hoped
that the Fifth Committee will be able to report a great improvement in this direction next year,
as the time that has elapsed since the Convention was signed ought to have enabled all the
signatory States to take the necessary action. The Fifth Committee thinks that the atten-
tion of States should again be called to the matter and passed a resolution to that effect.
2. The Fifth Committee was very interested to read that part of the report of the Ad-
visorv Committee which deals with the presence of foreign prostitutes in licensed houses -
a question which was specially referred to them on the recomumendation of the Fifth Commit-
tee last year. The Committee is glad to note that the proposal of the Polish Delegate that
pending the abolition of State regulation, no foreign woman shall be employed in or carry
on her profession as a prostitute in any licensed houses, was adopted by the Advisory Com-
mittee by a majority, and observes that the Council, in view of the differences of opinion
manifested on this subject, has decided to communicate to Members of the League the report
of the Advisory Committee oi the question, iogether with an extract from the linutes of
its proceedings relative to the examination of the Sokal proposal and an extract from the
Minutes of the proceedings of the Council relating to the same subject.
3. Arising out of the question referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Advisory
Committee considered the connection which may exist between the traffic in women and the
system of State or official regulation, and proposed that a questionnaire should be issued to
States asking for a statement of their experience. 'The Fifth Committee agrees that infor-
mation of this kind may prove to be of the greatest value, and it is glad to know that the
Council has already takeii steps to issue this questionnaire in a slightly modified form.
4. On the subject of the employment of women police in dealing with prostitution,
which is the subject of Resolution 8 in the Advisory Conmittee's report, several delegates
urged the importance of this question. In their opinion the services of police-women are
essential not only in dealing with prostitutes, whether in licensed houses or elsewhere, but
especially in patrolling streets and open spaces so as to prevont the molestation of women
and children and to give help to those who need advice or assistance. These delegates em-
phasised the value of the preventive side of women's work in this direction. The Fifth
Committee notes that the Council decided to forward the recomnmenldation of the Advisory
Committee to all the Governments for their information.
S. U. N. () I.650. (A) 1.460. Imprimerie .ient s. A.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.unl/twcrf0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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