CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM
The Code (short for “The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism”) is an industry-driven responsible tourism initiative with a mission to provide awareness, tools and support to the tourism industry in order to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. An estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 years of age experience sexual exploitation or other forms of sexual violence according to the UN Global Study on Violence against Children. Every year, millions of children are bought and sold for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
HISTORY
After the first World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in 1996, ECPAT Sweden developed The Code in partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and several Swedish tour operators.
The Code was then spread worldwide through partnerships with the ECPAT network, UNWTO, and UNICEF. Since 2004, The Code has operated as an independent non-profit organisation.
Today, it is a global multi-stakeholder organisation based in Thailand, with high-level leadership coming from both the tourism industry and civil society. Expansion and impact in many countries is driven by partnerships with passionate local non-governmental organisations, which we call Local Code Representatives.
FORMS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
The commercial sexual exploitation of children involves the buying and selling of children under 18 years of age for sexual purposes. Child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, the prostitution of children, and child pornography are all forms of this crime.
Child sex tourism often takes place in hotels and uses other travel infrastructure. That’s why we believe that working with responsible tourism companies is a powerful way to keep children safe and prevent these crimes.
HELPING TOURISM COMPANIES TO HELP CHILDREN
The Code was created as a practical tool for the tourism industry to utilize as part of their responsible tourism or CSR policies. By implementing the six criteria of The Code, members are making a clear statement to their staff and clients that they do not accept the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
HOW DOES THE CODE KEEP CHILDREN SAFE?
The Code aims to address the crime of child sex tourism by creating a highly aware and well-trained tourism industry that can recognize and prevent potential abuse and also by building zero tolerance environments where travellers understand that these crimes are unacceptable and offenders will be prosecuted.
WHY DO COMPANIES JOIN THE CODE?
Tourism companies join The Code for many moral reasons. The companies join because helping children makes human sense. And also because joining The Code makes business sense. When a tourism company joins The Code they commit to taking six essential steps to help protect children, which are the six criteria of The Code.
6 STEPS TO PROTECTING CHILDREN ARE:
1. TO ESTABLISH A POLICY AND PROCEDURES
against sexual exploitation of children
2. TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES
In children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation and how to report suspected cases
3. TO INCLUDE A CLAUSE IN CONTRACTS
throughout the value chain stating a common repudiation and zero tolerance policy of sexual exploitation of children
4. TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO TRAVELERS
on children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation of children and how to report suspected cases
5. TO SUPPORT, COLLABORATE & ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS
in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children
6. TO REPORT ANNUALLY
on the implementation of The Code
CHILD PROTECTION AS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
As the representatives of future generations, children are valuable members of our society. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that child protection becomes a priority. Child protection is an important pillar of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and responsible tourism. For the tourism industry, child sex tourism impedes on sustainable and responsible tourism while generating negative impact to society: businesses, communities and families. If left to flourish, it can generate a community “dependency” on the wrong type of tourism – the type that generates profits at the expense of children’s lives and the community’s future. The consequences will have a direct impact on the local community, its ability to sustain tourism operations and protect the destination.
Nowadays, responsible travelers are seeking destinations and companies that share their ethical values. These travelers utilize their “consumer power” to choose child-safe service providers. By joining The Code, tourism companies ensure that their organizations are working to ensure that children are protected from sexual exploitation.