INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE "WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC"

His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India; His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire; His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the King of Denmark; His Majesty the King of Spain; the President of the French Republic; His Majesty the King of Italy; Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands; His Majesty the King of Portugal and of the Algarves; His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias; His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway; and the Swiss Federal Council, being desirous of securing to women of full age who have suffered abuse or compulsion, as also to women and girls under age, effective protection against the criminal traffic known as the "White Slave Traffic", have decided to conclude an Agreement with a view to concerting measures calculated to attain this object, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following provisions:

Article 1

Each of the Contracting Governments undertakes to establish or name some authority charged with the coordination of all information relative to the procuring of women or girls for immoral purposes abroad; this authority shall be empowered to correspond direct with the similar department established in each of the other Contracting States.

Article 2

Each of the Governments undertakes to have a watch kept, especially in railway stations, ports of embarkation, and en route, for persons in charge of women and girls destined for an immoral life. With this object instructions shall be given to the officials, and all other qualified persons, to obtain, within legal limits, all information likely to lead to the detection of criminal traffic.

The arrival of persons who clearly appear to be the principals, accomplices in, or victims of, such traffic shall be notified, when it occurs, either to the authorities of the place of destination, or to the diplomatic or consular agents interested, or to any other competent authorities.

Article 3

The Governments undertake, when the case arises, and within legal limits, to have the declarations taken of women or girls of foreign nationality who are prostitutes, in order to establish their identity and civil status, and to discover who has caused them to leave their country. The information obtained shall be communicated to the authorities of the country of origin of the said women and girls, with a view to their eventual repatriation.

The Governments undertake, within legal limits, and as far as can be done, to entrust temporarily, and with a view to their eventual repatriation, the victims of a criminal traffic when destitute to public or private charitable institutions, or to private individuals offering the necessary security.

The Governments also undertake, within legal limits, and as far as possible, to send back to their country of origin those women and girls who desire it, or who may be claimed by persons exercising authority over them. Repatriation shall only take place after agreement as to identity and nationality, as well as place and date of arrival at the frontiers. Each of the Contracting Countries shall facilitate transit through its territory.

Correspondence relative to repatriation shall be direct as far as possible.

Article 4

Where the woman or girl to be repatriated cannot herself repay the cost of transfer, and has neither husband, relations, nor guardian to pay for her, the cost of repatriation shall be borne by the country where she is in residence as far as the nearest frontier or port of embarkation in the direction of the country of origin, and by the country of origin as regards the rest.

Article 5

The provisions of the foregoing Articles 3 and 4 shall not affect any private Conventions existing between the Contracting Governments.

Article 6

The Contracting Governments undertake, within legal limits, to exercise supervision, as far as possible, over the offices or agencies engaged in finding employment for women or girls abroad.

Article 7

Non-Signatory States can adhere to the present Agreement. For this purpose they shall notify their intention, through the diplomatic channel, to the French Government, who shall acquaint all the Contracting States.

Article 8

The present Agreement shall come into force six months after the exchange of ratifications. If one of the Contracting Parties denounces it, this denunciation shall only have effect as regards that party, and that only twelve months after the date of denunciation.

Article 9

The present Agreement shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged, at Paris, with the least possible delay.

IN FAITH WHEREOF the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present Agreement, and thereunto affixed their seals.

DONE at Paris, the 18th May, 1904, in single copy, which shall be deposited in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, and of which one copy, certified correct, shall be sent to each Contracting Party.

PROCÈS-VERBAL OF SIGNATURE

The undersigned plenipotentiaries, assembled this day for the purpose of proceeding to the signature of the Agreement intended to secure effective protection against the "White Slave Traffic", have exchanged the following Declaration respecting the application of the said Agreement to the respective Colonies of the Contracting States:

Article 1

The countries signatories to the Agreement have the right to accede thereto at any time for their Colonies or foreign possessions.

They may do this either by a general Declaration comprehending all their Colonies or possessions within the accession, or by specially naming those comprised therein, or by simply indicating those which are excluded.

Article 2

The Government of His Britannic Majesty declare that they reserve the right to accede to the Agreement, and to denounce it for each of the British Colonies or possessions.

The German Government declare that they reserve their decisions on the subject of their Colonies.

The Danish Government declare that they reserve the right to accede to the Agreement for the Danish Colonies.

The Spanish Government declare that they reserve their decisions on the subject of their Colonies.

The French Government declare that the Agreement shall apply to all French Colonies.

The Italian Government declare that the Agreement shall apply to the Colony of Erythræa.

The Netherland Government declare that the Agreement shall apply to all the Netherland Colonies.

The Portuguese Government declare that they reserve the right to decide subsequently whether the Agreement shall be put into force in any of the Portuguese Colonies.

The Russian Government declare that the Agreement shall be applicable in its integrity to all the territory of the Empire in Europe and in Asia.

Article 3

Any Governments who may subsequently have declarations to make on the subject of their Colonies shall make them in the form provided in Article 7 of the Agreement.

At the moment of proceeding to the signature of the Agreement, his Serene Highness Prince Radolin, Ambassador of Germany, desires, in the name of his Government, to make the following declaration:

In the view of the German Government, the Rules which may exist between the German Empire and the country of origin respecting the mutual assistance of paupers are not applicable to persons who are repatriated in virtue of the present Agreement on their way through Germany.

IN FAITH WHEREOF plenipotentiaries have signed this procès-verbal.

DONE at Paris, 18 May 1904.

PROTOCOL AMENDING THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC, SIGNED AT PARIS ON 18 MAY 1904, AND THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC, SIGNED AT PARIS ON 4 MAY 1910

THE PARTIES TO THE PRESENT PROTOCOL, considering that under the International Agreement for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 18 May 1904, and the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 4 May 1910, the Government of the French Republic was invested with certain functions; considering that the said Government has offered to transfer to the United Nations the functions exercised by it under the abovementioned agreements; and considering that it is expedient that these functions should be assumed henceforth by the United Nations; hereby agree as follows:

Article 1

The Parties to the present Protocol undertake that as between themselves they will, each in respect of the instruments to which it is a Party and in accordance with the provisions of the present Protocol, attribute full legal force and effect to, and duly apply, the amendments to those instruments which are set forth in the Annex to the present Protocol.

Article 2

The Secretary-General shall prepare the texts of the International Agreement of 18 May 1904 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic and of the International Convention of 4 May 1910 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, as revised in accordance with the present Protocol, and shall send copies for their information to the Governments of every Member of the United Nations and every non-member State to which this Protocol is open for signature or acceptance. He shall also invite Parties to any of the instruments to be amended by the present Protocol to apply the amended texts of those instruments as soon as the amendments are in force, even if they have not yet been able to become Parties to the present Protocol.

Article 3

The present Protocol shall be open for signature or acceptance by any of the Parties to the International Agreement of 18 May 1904 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic or to the International Convention of 4 May 1910 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, to which the Secretary-General has communicated for this purpose a copy of the present Protocol.

Article 4

States may become Parties to the present Protocol by:

(a) Signature without reservation as to acceptance;[1]

(b) Signature with reservation as to acceptance, followed by acceptance;

(c) Acceptance.

Acceptance shall be effected by the deposit of a formal instrument with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 5

The present Protocol shall come into force on the date on which two or more States shall have become Parties thereto.[2]

The amendments set forth in the Annex to the present Protocol shall come into force in respect of the International Agreement of 18 May 1904 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic when twenty Parties thereto shall have become Parties to the present Protocol; and in respect of the International Convention of 4 May 1910 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic when twenty Parties thereto shall have become Parties to the present Protocol; and, consequently, any State becoming a Party to the Agreement or to the Convention after the amendments thereto have come into force shall become a Party to the Agreement or to the Convention as so amended.[3]

Article 6

Upon the entry into force of the amendments set forth in the Annex to the present Protocol and concerning either the Agreement or the Convention, the French Government shall deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations the original of that of the two agreements to which the aforesaid amendments relate, together with the various documents which were in its custody by virtue of the functions which it exercised.

Article 7

In accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations and the regulations pursuant thereto adopted by the General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations is authorized to effect registration of the present Protocol and the amendments made in the Agreement and Convention by the present Protocol on the respective dates of their entry into force, and to publish the Protocol and the amended Agreement and Convention as soon as possible after registration.

Article 8

The present Protocol, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations Secretariat. The Agreement and the Convention to be amended in accordance with the Annex being in the French language only, the French text of the Annex shall be authentic and the Chinese, English, Russian and Spanish texts shall be translations. A certified copy of the Protocol, including the Annex, shall be sent by the Secretary-General to each of the Parties to the International Agreement of 18 May 1904 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic or to the International Convention of 4 May 1910 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, as well as to all Members of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, signed the present Protocol on the date appearing opposite their respective signatures.

DONE at Lake Success, New York, this fourth day of May one thousand nine hundred and forty-nine.

ANNEX TO THE PROTOCOL AMENDING THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC, SIGNED AT PARIS ON 18 MAY 1904, AND THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC, SIGNED AT PARIS ON 4 MAY 1910

1. International Agreement for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 18 May 1904

Article 7 shall read:

"Non-signatory States may adhere to the present Agreement. For this purpose they shall notify their intention to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall acquaint all the Contracting States and all the Members of the United Nations."

2. International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 4 May 1910

Article 4 shall read:

"The Contracting Parties shall communicate to each other, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, such laws as have already been, or may in the future be, promulgated in their countries relating to the subject of the present Convention."

Article 8. The first paragraph shall read:

"Non-signatory States may accede to the present Convention. For this purpose, they shall notify their intention by an instrument which shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall send a certified copy to each of the Contracting States and to all the Members of the United Nations, and shall at the same time inform them of the date of deposit. The said instrument of notification shall also transmit any laws promulgated by the acceding State relating to the subject of the present Convention."

Article 10. The second paragraph shall read:

"The denunciation shall be notified by an instrument which shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall send a certified copy to each of the Contracting States and to all the Members of the United Nations, and shall at the same time inform them of the date of deposit."

Article 11. The first paragraph shall read:

"Should a Contracting State desire the present Convention to come into force in one or more of its colonies, possessions or areas under consular jurisdiction, it shall for this purpose notify its intention by an instrument which shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall send a certified copy to each of the Contracting States and to all the Members of the United Nations, and shall at the same time inform them of the date of deposit."

The fifth paragraph shall read:

"The denunciation of the Convention by one of the Contracting States for one or more of such colonies, possessions or areas under consular jurisdiction shall take place in accordance with the forms and conditions laid down in the first paragraph of the present Article. It shall take effect twelve months after the date of deposit of the instrument of denunciation in the archives of the United Nations."