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1 Avril de Sainte-Croix, Traffic in Women and Children: Report on the International Women's Associations 1 (1925)

handle is hein.unl/twcri0001 and id is 1 raw text is: C.T.F.E 234 t'enve, April 21st, 1925. LEAGUE OF NATIONS TRAFFIC IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS By Madame Avril de Sainte-Croix. The International Associations which I have the honour to represent here, since they are not all able to devote constant and practical efforts to the campaign against the traffic in women and children - as do the associations which have created an entire organisation for the purpose and devote all their activities thereto -- have felt that we might make effective use of their devotion to the cause by requesting them to use their influence with their Governments to obtain more complete and effective adherence to the decisions taken by the Advisory Committee of the League of Nations. For this purpose, after drawing their attention to the highly important work done by the Advisory Committee, we sent the following circular to the Presidents of these Associations in order to make quite clear what we were asking them to do: The Presidents of the great Associations represented on the Advisory Committee are requested to use their influence with their national groups in order that the latter may prevail upon their Governments: A. To adhere to the Geneva Convention of 1021 concerning the Traffic in Women and Children (if adherence has not already been given); B. To ratify this Convention if adherence has already been given ; C. Further, that they may insist upon the authorities sending to the Advisory Committee the annual reports requested by the League of Nations; D. That central offices, as provided in the Convention, shall be set up in all countries in which such action has not already been taken; E. That the National Councils of countries in which prostitution is still subject to regulation shall endeavour to obtain the abolition of a system favourable to the traffic and countenancing the principle that the responsibility of men is different from that of women, both as regards the law and public morals; F. That the National Councils should, through their influence on the affiliated Associations, endeavour to establish in their country, with a view to improving results and diminishing expenditure, an agreement between national and international organisa- tions for protecting, rescuing and assisting female emigrants. Owing to the change of date of the meeting of the Advisory Committee, it has not been possible for all our Associations to report in time the results of their action and the work which they have carried out during the year. At the time of drawing up this report, several countries had not yet replied. We have, however, noted the interest shown in these questions, and though some of our correspondents state that they have not been able to obtain any definite results, they are by no means discouraged and are determined to persevere in their efforts for the protection of women and children. They have realised that it is above all their duty, as women, to aid other women who have either succumbed to or are threatened by moral dangers. Whether they are nationals of countries in which women have obtained political rights or of countries in which women have still to obtain the franchise, the vast majority of Associations to which our circular was addressed have stated that they are ready to offer their complete support to the unfortunate women whom poverty, ignorance or cupidity have made the prey of those who live by disorder, immorality and open or secret debauch. All are ready to unite their forces to protect those who have hitherto been lucky enough to escape the peril, to save those for whom temptation is lying in wait, and to endeavour to rescue those who have succumbed. They, the mothers, know that in a society shaken by a murderous war, without any solid moral foundation, the girl, at an age when everything should be designed for her protection, is at the mercy of those whose desires have been able to develop without any check other than that afforded by laws which often remain a dead letter, and which cannot take the place of moral self-discipline. South Africa. The great Women's Associations of South Africa have replied to us. No organised traffic exists in South Africa. There is certainly less prostitution than during the war; this, however, does not entitle us to conclude that there has been any moral betterment, S. d. N. 360 1E ., 300 A) S' i. Imp. Ku adig.

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