Sources relating to Women at PROV
Where can I find records relating to sexuality and reproductive rights?
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General comments
- Refer to the general comments on finding records relating to women's issues in PROV. Also refer to general comments on finding records relating to women and children in PROV.
- One source for early actions relating to women's sexuality (including the age of consent) is VPRS 30 (Criminal Trial Briefs). This series contains the documentation gathered and created by the Crown (through the Criminal Law Branch of the Office of the Victorian Government Solicitor, later known as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) for prosecutions in the Supreme Court or the Court of General Sessions/County Court. This series includes cases involving carnal knowledge of girls under the age of consent. The series could also be used to obtain information from the prosecutions in these courts of other cases that are sexual in nature.
- NOTE: The series is subject to a 75 year access closure, but all files pertaining to nineteenth century cases are available for public inspection.
- Regarding women's rights in marriage and reproductive rights, it may be that the Victorian Parliament referred these or similar issues to one of its Joint Investigatory Committees, such as:
- (VA 3126) Social Development Committee (1982-92)
- (VA 3141) Legal and Constitutional Committee (1982-92)
- (VA 3142) Law Reform Committee (1992-continuing)
- (VA 3128) Family and Community Development Committee (previously known as the Community Development Committee 1992-96) (1992-continuing).
- NOTE: Requests for access to records of the Victorian Parliament (including these particular committees) must be referred to the Clerk of the Papers for the Legislative Council or the Legislative Assembly as required. Written approval must be presented to PROV before the records will be made available for public inspection.
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