NCJ Number
66345
Date Published
1960
Length
24 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ARE PRESENTED FOCUSING ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL CASES SINCE 1950 WHICH RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS FOR TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN.
Abstract
TRAFFICKING IS DEFINED AS THE PROCURING OF A WOMAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN THE ONE IN WHICH THE WOMAN NORMALLY LIVES. TO PROVE TRAFFICKING, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO PROVE THAT EITHER FRAUD OR COERCION WAS EMPLOYED. THE PERSON WHO ACTS AS THE TRAVEL AND EMPLOYMENT AGENT IS UNCONDITIONALLY GUILTY OF THE CRIME. ACCORDING TO THE REPLIES RECEIVED BY THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT, NO CASES OF TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN EXIST IN MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BURMA, CEYLON, SWEDEN, AND TURKEY. MOREOVER, CRIMINAL LAW IS SUCH THAT TRAFFICKING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH FROM STRICTLY LOCAL PROSTITUTION IN BELGIUM, CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, AND THE PHILLIPPINES. FEW CASES OF TRAFFICKING HAVE COME BEFORE THE COURTS SINCE 1950 (I.E., 2 CASES IN ARGENTINA, 15 IN FRANCE, AND 7 IN GREECE); AND MANY COUNTRIES REPORTED NO INSTANCES OF THIS ACTIVITY. IN OTHER COUNTRIES SUCH AS BELGIUM, AUSTRALIA, AND DENMARK, SUSPECTED TRAFFICKING WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SERIOUS PROBLEM. AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY URGES CONCERNED AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE THAT MORE DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS ARE MADE BEFORE PASSPORTS ARE ISSUED AND THAT ALL TOURING 'ARTISTS' BE KEPT UNDER CLOSE SURVEILLANCE WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN AND LEAVE A COUNTRY. THE COMPLICITY OF THE WOMEN WITH THEIR TRAVEL AGENTS MUST BE RECALLED IN INVESTIGATIONS. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED, AND APPENDIXES PRESENT RELATED REPORTS. (LWM)