The Contagious Diseases Acts

The Contagious Diseases Acts were laws enacted in 19th-century Britain aimed at controlling the spread of sexually transmitted infections, particularly among military personnel and prostitutes. They allowed for the forced medical examinations of women suspected of being infected and, if found positive, their detention and treatment without trial. The Acts were controversial, raising issues about public health, morality, and women's rights, and faced significant opposition from reformers and women's rights groups. Eventually, widespread criticism led to their repeal in the early 1880s, highlighting the complex balance between health measures and civil liberties.