| Description | The Women's Library Archives Strand 4: Societies for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons, consists of minutes and associated papers, reports, campaign and resource files, correspondence, publications and administration. Please see individual catalouges for full details.
Material is predominantly in English with other languages used where material is of an international nature.
The six organisations represented in this Strand had separate entities, but were closely related, so that by the end of their existence they operated from the same address, often by the same people. The organisations aimed to aid and protect women, minors (including young men) and children in the areas of sexual and social morality. They operated on a regional, national and international basis, finally ceasing activities in the early 1970s when the British Vigilance Association and the Anti-Slavery Society passed the archives to The Fawcett Library. National activity is also represented by the National Vigilance Association archive, whilst the International Bureau for Suppression of Traffic in Persons tells the international story. The links with the Anti-Slavery Society (whose records are held at BPLES) illustrate the complexity of the women's movement and how it related to other concerns at the time. Strand 4 is related to Strand 3, because the issues of prostitution and trafficking of women are so closely interrelated. Many of the activists and organisations have integral links and together they form a history of a subject that even now is rarely discussed.
The Strand comprised the following archives:
* 4BNC International Bureau for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons: British National Committee
* 4BVA British Vigilance Association
* 4IBS International Bureau for Suppression of Traffic in Persons
* 4NVA National Vigilance Association
* 4RFR Richard F Russell
* 4TAS Travellers' Aid Society |