Convention for the
Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the
Prostitution of Others
(Lake Success, New York, 21 March 1950)
OBJECTIVES
The
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation
of the Prostitution of Others consolidates other international agreements
concluded on this issue since 1904.
The main objective of the Convention is to provide effective measures
against all forms of trafficking in women and the exploitation of prostitution.
For the first time in an international instrument, the Convention declares
prostitution and the traffic in persons to be incompatible with the dignity and
worth of the human person and to endanger the welfare of the individual, the
family and the community.
KEY PROVISIONS
States
parties agree to punish any person who procures, entices or leads away another
person for purposes of prostitution, even with the consent of that person;
exploits the prostitution of another person, even with the consent of that
person; or keeps or supports a brothel. Attempts to commit any of the above
offences as well as intentional participation in any of the above offences, to
the extent permitted by domestic law, are also proscribed by the Convention.
The Convention requires that these offences be classified as extraditable
offences in any extradition treaty, which has been or may be concluded between
any of the parties to the Convention.
The Convention requires States parties to take measures to prevent prostitution, and provide rehabilitation and social reintegration of its victims. States parties are also required to supervise employment agencies in order to prevent persons seeking employment, in particular women and children, from being exposed to the danger of prostitution. States parties also undertake to establish systems of coordination and exchange of information among States parties, and to adopt or maintain regulations in connection with immigration and emigration to monitor trafficking in persons of either sex for the purpose of prostitution.
The
provisions of the Convention shall supersede in the relations between the
parties thereto the provisions of the International Agreement for the
Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 18 May 1904, amended
by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, 4 May 1949; International
Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 4
May 1910, amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, 4 May 1949;
International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and
Children, concluded at Geneva on 30 September 1921, as amended by the Protocol
signed at Lake Success, New York, 12 November 1947; and International Convention
for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women of Full Age, concluded at Geneva on
11 October 1933, as amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, 12
November 1947. Each one of the above agreements shall be deemed to be terminated
when all the parties thereto have become parties to the present Convention.
ENTRY INTO FORCE
The Convention entered into force on 25 July 1951, on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the second instrument of ratification or accession (article 24).
HOW TO BECOME A PARTY
The Convention is open for signature, indefinitely, by any Member of the United Nations and any other State to which an invitation has been addressed by the Economic and Social Council and is subject to ratification. It is also open to accession (article 23).
OPTIONAL AND/OR MANDATORY DECLARATIONS
The parties to the Convention shall
communicate to the Secretary-General of the United Nations such laws and
regulations as have already been promulgated in their States, and thereafter
annually such laws and regulations as may be promulgated, relating to the
subjects of the Convention, as well as measures taken by them concerning the
application of the Convention (article 21).
RESERVATIONS
The
Convention is silent with regard to reservations.
WITHDRAWAL/DENUNCIATION
After the expiration of five years from the entry into force of the Convention, any party to it may denounce it by a written notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall take effect one year from the date upon which the notification is received by the Secretary-General (article 25).
STATUS AS OF 24 MARCH 2003