Tourism has the potential to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. However, unrestricted tourist development also has a serious dark side.
An estimated 223 million boys and girls around the world experience sexual exploitation or other forms of sexual violence. And many perpetrators are travelling child sex offenders – who take advantage of poverty, social exclusion, and weak laws – often in countries that offer a culture of impunity.
In recent years, an exponential increase in destinations, combined with increasing innovation has added to the risks. The internet has facilitated increasing travel options, while also enabling travelling child sex offenders to more easily exploit children. No country is immune.
While the tourism industry is not to blame for this problem, it is in a unique position to take action to protect children.
This is where the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism (“The Code”) comes in.
The Code is an industry-driven initiative that works to address child sexual exploitation by offering training to the tourism industry – so that workers can recognise and prevent potential abuse, and businesses can create zero tolerance environments where these crimes do not go unpunished.
Each of our more than 300 members has an important role to play. By joining The Code, businesses send a clear message that they do not tolerate sexual crimes against children. Members of the Code must prove that they are implementing concrete steps to protect children, including:
- Training staff,
- Raising awareness about child rights among customers,
- Establishing policies to tackle the sexual exploitation of children and
- Collaborating with partners and stakeholders to protect local children.
In the popular tourist destinations of Phuket, Thailand and Cancún, Mexico, the problem has become especially bad. In both of these places, we are testing a new approach to involving businesses in the protection of children. The Code, along with ECPAT members in Thailand and Mexico, is working with governments, NGOs, travel businesses and at-risk children themselves in an effort to shield them from travelling sex offenders.
If your company operates in Phuket or Cancun and you are interested in taking part in some free staff training in the coming months, please contact info@thecode.org for information, or join The Code today by visiting: www.thecode.org
