CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924 — Page 195

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At a Western European Regional Medical Conference held under the auspices of the League of Red Cross Societies in Paris in December 1921 at which the French Red Cross was represented by medical specialists, the following Resolution was passed unanimously:-

H THAT regulation of prostitution does not play the

prophylactic role that has been attributed to it the modern methods of prophylactics of an educational and therapeutic nature can replace it with advantage.

Fronch version of Resolution.

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"LA RÈGLEMENTATION de la prostitution ne jouant pas le role prophylactique que l'on a cru pouvoir lui attribuer, les moyens prophy- lactiques modernes educatifs et therapeutiques, peuvent la remplacer avantageusement.

At the Congress Internationale de Propagande d'Hygiene sociale et d'Education prophylactique sanitaire et Morale held in Paris in May, 1923, medical and administrative sections were appointed by a number of the most prominent venereologists in France. Those cities which had made most effective progross in providing accessible facilities for the modern methods of treatment were the most insistent on the need for abolishing the regulation of prostitution.

The following Resolutions were passed:-

"THAT in the opinion of the Congress the regulation

of prostitution of women is useless in effect, iniquitous in law, and ought to be abolished, and should be replaced by a regime based on a common justice of forbidding the knowing transmission of disease and, if necessary, the isolation of infected persons of either sex in curative institutions.

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THE Congress believes that the law ought to be the same for all under its protection and that it ought not to be applicable for any particular section of the Nation, nor should any individual have any privilege that interferes with the rights of the community.'

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This showing that the trend of medical opinion in France is towards the abolition of regulation of prostitution and the substitution for it of adequate facilities for free treatment. It is now recognised that benereal disease is a public health measure and can only be adequately dealt with if treatment is secured to all infected persons throughout the community.

GERMANY.

The system

Up to date Regulation has existed in Germany. under the Imperial Codo proviled that prostitution was not forbidden, it was an offence, however, to carry it on not The under police control, or to break their regulations. regulations included, as in France, registration and compul- sory medical examination. Brothels are illegal but exist.

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