This act was passed in 1873 and was named after Anthony Comstock, a conservative who campaigned for an assertion of existing public morality in the United States.  Although the law was aimed at stopping the flow of pornographic and obscene material, in reality it also targeted both birth control devices and information on birth control devices, general information on birth control, abortion and information on sexuality and STDs. 

  When asked why he classified contraception and abortion with pornography, Comstock replied, “If you open the door to anything, tall the filth will pour in”.  This law was used against Margaret Sanger, a strong advocate of birth control and founder of the American birth control League.

  France:  Anti-contraceptive and anti-sterilisation clauses were added to Napoleonic codes, which applied to France and all its colonies

  Britain:  Laws were never really aimed at banning contraception, abortion or sterilization.  However, advocates and suppliers were usually nabbed under the obscene publications Act

  Germany: During the rule of the Nazi Third Reich, troops invaded bedrooms of citizens to confiscate any birth control devices.  The display of contraception was forbidden and labeled as a “by-product of an asphalt civilization”.  Women were also expected to breed the superior warriors of the Aryan race, with a France women being guillotined in German occupied France for having an abortion.

  Italy: Fascist Laws still held in relation to limiting information and supply of contraception until 1964