Depositary
STATUS AS AT : 08-07-2025 09:15:36 EDT
CHAPTER VII
TRAFFIC IN PERSONS
10. International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic
Paris, 4 May 1910
Entry into force
:
18 July 1905.
Registration :
5 July 1920, No. 8 1
Note :
The Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, concluded at Lake Success, New York of 21 March 1950 consolidates the Protocols, Conventions and Agreements listed in the present chapter under Nos. 1 to 10.  Furthermore, the Convention of 21 March 1950 supercedes the provisions of the above-referenced instruments in the relations between the Parties thereto and shall terminate such instruments when all the Parties thereto shall have become Parties to the Convention of 21 March 1950, in accordance with its article 28.
The following list was provided by the Government of France at the time of the transfer to the Secretary-General of the depositary functions in respect of the Convention.
(1) States which ratified the Convention

Austria-Hungary

Belgium

Brazil

Denmark

France

Germany2

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

Russia

Spain

Sweden

(2) States which acceded to the Convention

Bulgaria

Chile

China3

Colombia

Cuba

Czechoslovakia4

Egypt

Estonia

Finland

Irish Free State

Japan

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Monaco

Norway

Persia

Poland

Siam

Switzerland

Turkey

Uruguay

Yugoslavia (former)5

(3) The Convention was declared applicable to the following colonies, dominions and protectorates

French colonies, Morocco, Tunisia

Netherlands East and West Indies, Surinam and Curaçao

Canada

Union of South Africa

Newfoundland

New Zealand

Bahamas

Ceylon

Cyprus

Kenya

Fiji Islands

Gibraltar

Hong Kong6

Jamaica

Malta

Nyasaland

Southern Rhodesia

Straits Settlements

Trinidad

Australia

Papua and Norfolk

India

Barbados

British Honduras

Grenada

St. Lucia

St. Vincent

Seychelles

British Guiana

Isle of Man

Jersey

Guernsey

Mauritius

Leeward Islands

Falkland Islands

Gold Coast

Iraq

Gambia

Uganda

Tanganyika

Burma

New Guinea

Nauru

Sudan

Sierra Leone

Palestine and Transjordan

Sarawak

Gilbert and Ellice Islands

British Solomon Islands

Zanzibar

Actions subsequent to the assumption of depositary functions by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Participant 2
Accession(a), Succession(d)
Bahamas (The)
 10 Jun 1976 d
Czech Republic 4
30 Dec 1993 d
Fiji
 12 Jun 1972 d
Lebanon
 22 Sep 1949 a
Slovakia 4
28 May 1993 d
Zimbabwe
  1 Dec 1998 d
End Note
1Great Britain,  Treaty Series No. 20 (1912).  This Convention is listed under No. 8 a ) in the League of Nations Treaty Series and in the United Nations  Treaty Series (Annex C).
2In a notification received on 16 July 1974, the Government of the German Democratic Republic stated that the German Democratic Republic had declared the reapplication of the Convention as from 10 August 1958.

In this connection, the Secretary-General received on 2 March 1976 the following communication from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany:

With reference to the communication by the German Democratic Republic of 17 June 1974, concerning the application, as from 10 August 1958, of the International Convention of 4 May 1910 for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany declares that in the relation between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic the declaration of application has no retroactive effect beyond 21 June 1973.

Subsequently, in a communication received on 17 June 1976, the Government of the German Democratic Republic declared:

"The Government of the German Democratic Republic takes the view that in accordance with the applicable rules of international law and the international practice of States the regulations on the reapplication of agreements concluded under international law are an internal affair of the successor State concerned.  Accordingly, the German Democratic Republic was entitled to determine the date of reapplication of the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, May 4th 1910 to which it established its status as a party by way of succession."

See also note 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
3See note concerning signatures, ratifications, accessions, etc., on behalf of China (note 1 under “China” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume).
4See note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
5See note 1 under “Bosnia and Herzegovina", "Croatia", "former Yugoslavia", "Slovenia", "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and "Yugoslavia" in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
6On 6 and 10 June 1997, respectively, Secretary-General received communications regarding the status of Hong Kong from China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (see also note 2 under “China” and note 2 under “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume).  Upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, China notified the Secretary-General that the Convention will also apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
chevron-down chevron-up