Author’s Note
200 Words
Author’s NoteThe traffic in women and children from England to the Continent grew and it was not until the passing of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill that young virgins ceased to be smuggled across to the Continent to be sold like cattle.
William Thomas Stead, editor of The Pall Mall Gazette, started in 1880 to try and free the child slaves of England by arousing public indignation to the point where the Criminal Amendment Bill, which had time and time again been dropped by Parliament, should be made law.
Accordingly Stead bought a girl of thirteen, whose mother agreed to sell her for one pound. He had the girl certified as a virgin by a doctor and, taking her to France, lodged her in a Salvation Army hostel.
He reported what he had done in his newspaper and aroused instantaneous interest.
What followed is history.
Stead was prosecuted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. But on April 14th, 1885 the Act was passed by 179 votes to 71 to make further provision for the protection of women and children and future suppression of brothels.
The traffic in women still flourishes in many parts of the world today, especially the Middle East.
- Writer
