A.—s

Regarding the training of persons employed in social services, it was suggested that the Committee of Experts entrusted with the examination of this question should consult not only those actively engaged in such training, but also representatives of institutions employing social-welfare workers. (g) Future Work. —During the coming year the Advisory Committee is to undertake the examination of three new questions:— (i) The principles adopted in the organization and administration of welfare work among the young, including social assistance; (ii) The training of persons engaged in social work: (iii) Family desertion. (h) Protection of Children in Time of War.—The attention of the Fifth Committee was drawn to this problem, and the suggestion was made by the Spanish delegate that it be included in the study of the principles of the organization and administration of child-welfare work to be undertaken by the Advisory Committee. She described the sufferings of women and children, victims of air bombardment. It was generally agreed that as the International Red Cross is already dealing with this question in collaboration with the International " Save the Children " Union, these bodies should continue their work. Collaboration between the Advisory Committee on Social Questions, the Health Organization, and the International Labour Office. —The delegate of France stressed the necessity for close collaboration between the Advisory Committee on Social Questions, the Health' Organization, and the International Labour Organization 011 all matters affecting child welfare, and in this he was supported by other delegates. He submitted a resolution for the Fifth Committee's consideration, and this was later adopted with some minor amendments. Traffic in Women and Children. Satisfaction was expressed by members of the Fifth Committee at the progress of ratification of international conventions in connection with women and children l* ie conventions of 1921 and 1923 relating to the suppression of traffic in women and children and obscene publications respectively are now applied almost universally ._ As regards the convention of 1933 for the suppression of traffic in women of full age, this is now in force in twenty-five countries. Annual Reports.—The Advisory Committee, considering the former questionnaire no longer adequate owing to changes in the methods by which traffic in women and children is carried 011 and in the methods adopted by Governments to combat it, had prepared a new questionnaire; members of the Fifth Committee expressed their satisfaction at this development, which they felt made a clearer distinction between the international and national traffic in women and children, and would further lead to information from countries as to the legislative and administrative progress in the prevention and suppression of the traffic The Fifth Committee further expressed the hope that the revision o± the form of the annual report would lead to a revival of interest m this questionnaire on the part of Governments, and that this would be reflected in a renewed increase m the number of Governments reporting 011 traffic in women and children. Rehabilitation of Prostitutes.—The Advisory Committee's two volumes (1) on the early lives of prostitutes, and (ii) on social service and venereal disease, were before the 1 lft During the 6 discussion the delegate of Denmark outlined experiments which had been made in her country in the last two years, where a group of prostitutes had been placed under mental observation, and it was found that about 20 per cent, of them were weakminded and about 50 per cent, mentally defective. Instead of being sentenced accoidi g to old methods, they were sent either to mental homes or to families 111 the country, where they were employed doing household work. The system had yielded very valuab e The Fifth Committee recorded its appreciation of the work undertaken by the Advisory Committee in this field and for the information available m the volumes mentioned above. . Prevention of Prostitution.—The Advisory Committee is continuing its study on the prevention of prostitution, especially of minors. This provides, inter aha, for a study of the factors leading women into prostitution, for an account of direct preventive measures, and for a study of the reduction of demand. The Fifth Committee stressed the importance of the last point in view of the growing recognition of the role played by artificial stimulation of demand in connection with prostitution. „ . , , Discussion took place on the question of the convocation of an mter-governmental Conference for the conclusion of a convention for the suppression of the exploitation of the prostitution of others. The object of the convention is to fill important gaps left by the Existing inventions in the field of combating traffic in women and children he chief gap being the protection of persons of full age of either sex against being exploited even with their consent and without being taken abroad for immoral purposes by a third party. The history of this subject is briefly as follows: After a discussion extending o\cr

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