Depositary
STATUS AS AT : 29-03-2023 11:17:07 EDT
CHAPTER VII
TRAFFIC IN PERSONS
8. International Agreement for the suppression of the "White Slave Traffic"
Paris, 18 May 1904
Entry into force
:
18 July 1905, in accordance with article 8.
Registration :
7 September 1920, No. 11 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 Agreement.
(1) States which ratified the Agreement

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany2

Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

Russia

Spain

Sweden and Norway

Switzerland

United Kingdom3

(2) States which acceded to the Agreement

Austria-Hungary

Brazil

Bulgaria

Colombia

Czechoslovakia4

Lebanon5

Luxembourg

Poland

United States of America

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

German colonies

Iceland and Danish West Indies

Australia

Bahamas

Barbados

British Central Africa

British Guinea and Guiana

British Solomon Islands

Canada

Fiji Islands

Gambia

Gibraltar

Gilbert and Ellice Islands

Gold Coast

Hong Kong

India

Jamaica

Leeward Islands

Malta

Burma

New Zealand

Northern Nigeria

Palestine and Transjordan

St. Helena

Sarawak

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somaliland

Southern Rhodesia

Ceylon

Trinidad

Uganda

Wei-hai-wei

Windward Islands

Zanzibar

French colonies

Eritrea

Netherlands colonies

(4) The following colonies, dominions and protectorates consented to concur in article I of the Agreement

Basutoland

Bechuanaland

Bermuda

British East Africa

British Honduras

Cape Town

Cyprus

Natal

Orange River Colony

Southern Nigeria

Straits Settlements

Transvaal

(5) States and territories on behalf of which accession to the Convention of 4 May 1910 on the White Slave Traffic entailed ipso facto accession to the Agreement of 18 May 1904 by virtue of article 8 of the Convention of 1910

Chile

Cuba

Egypt

Finland

Irish Free State

Lithuania

Norway

Persia

Siam

Estonia

Newfoundland

Tanganyika

Union of South Africa

Kenya

Nyasaland

Papua and Norfolk

Grenada

St. Lucia

St. Vincent

Isle of Man

Japan

China

Yugoslavia (former)6

New Guinea

Nauru

Jersey

Guernsey

Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Iraq

Sudan

Turkey

Uruguay

Monaco

Morocco

Tunisia

Mauritius

Actions subsequent to the assumption of depositary functions by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Participant 2
Succession(d)
Bahamas
 10 Jun 1976 d
Czech Republic 4
30 Dec 1993 d
Fiji
 12 Jun 1972 d
Slovakia 4
28 May 1993 d
Zimbabwe
  1 Dec 1998 d
End Note
1

See League of Nations, Treaty Series , vol. I, p. 83.
2

In 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 Agreement 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 Agreement of 18 May 1904 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 Agreement for the Suppression of the `White Slave Traffic', May 18th, 1904 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.
3

On 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 Agreement of 18 May 1904, the Convention of 4 May 1910 and the Protocol of 4 May 1949 amending both the Agreement and the Convention will also apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
4

See note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
5

The instrument of accession by the Government of Lebanon was deposited with the Secretary-General on 20 June 1949.
6

See 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.
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