In 1877, the first international congress for abolitionists against prostitution,
regulationism and sex trafficking was held in
Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by the newly founded pioneer organization
International Abolitionist Federation. Following the congress, the international organization, the Internationale Verein Freundinnen junger Mädchen (FJM) was founded in Neuchâtel under the leadership of
Marie Humbert-Droz. FJM campaigned against the white slave trade (sex trafficking) by several methods. The most common active method was to identify and assist lonely girls who came from the countryside to the city to look for work, since these girls were the most common victims of the sex trade, and assist them with safe accommodations and looking for work. In 1886, a national section of the FJM was founded in Switzerland, called
Verein Freundinnen junger Mädchen on German and
Amies de la jeune fille or ''L'Union internationale des Amies de la jeune fille'' (AJF) in French. Another national section of the FJM was founded in Germany under the name
Freundinnenverein.
Modern organization After
World War II, the FJM was transformed into an organization to assist lonely travellers in general, such as elderly people or people who appear to need help in collective traffic. In 1999, the Swiss section changed its name to Compagna and moved its main office to
Luzern. It operates under 7 separate associations under various names such as
SOS Aide en Gare and
Compagna Reisebegleitung, and also operates several hotels across Switzerland. ==See also==