Sustainable Travel

Meet ECPAT International

ECPAT International is a global network of organizations and individuals working at all levels to build collaboration among local civil society and the broader child rights community to form a global social movement to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT stands for End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes. Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) consists of criminal practices that demand, threaten and abuse children, including prostitution of children, child pornography, trafficking of children for sexual purposes and child sex tourism. ECPAT International encourages the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free from all forms of CSEC. ECPAT began in the late 80s as a campaign to raise awareness of the growing incidence of CSEC in Asia, and gradually extended to formalize links with other groups and organizations around the world. The ECPAT network now comprises 85 members in 76 countries.

At the First World Congress in 1996, tourism was high on the agenda as a potential vehicle for the abuse of children world-wide; not only by pedophiles, but also by 'situational' abusers traveling to places where, it was presumed, sex with children was acceptable. Child sex tourists take advantage of their anonymity as well as the socio-economic disparities in the locations they visit.

For the past ten years, ECPAT International and ECPAT groups around the world have worked with the tourism and travel industry to raise awareness and to take practical measures against children being sexually exploited.

Partnerships have been established with the hotel industry, tour operators, and other members of the tourism sector for the prevention of child sex tourism. A major mile stone is the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism, initiated by ECPAT Sweden. Consisting of six criteria, the Code requires the establishment of an ethical policy regarding child sex tourism, continuous training of staff, and providing information to travelers on the issue of CST. The Code is supported by UNWTO and UNICEF. Currently, over 250 tourism companies in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and Latin America have signed the Code. Other successful projects include in-flight videos, campaign materials for tourists, training for tourism professionals, and partnerships with specific hotel groups. In short, many actors in the travel industry are taking a firm stance against child sex tourism and are providing protection for all children.

ECPAT International is a permanent member of the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Executive Committee for the Task Force on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Tourism. In addition, ECPAT International is also a permanent member of the Steering Committee and Executive Committee of the Code of Conduct Project.

Recently last month, ECPAT International released its Global Monitoring Report on the Status of Action against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children to mark the Tenth anniversary of the Global Action since the 1996 Stockholm World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The global reports highlight the widespread sexualization of images and contact with children. This coincides with trends of children being frequently victimized by adults for commercial sex, under the wrongful concept of their ability to consent to exploitation.

For more information about ECPAT or the free global reports, please visit ECPAT International’s website at www.ecpat.net.

Source: eTurboNews.com

Please note that eTN Publisher Thomas Steinmetz is a member of the UNWTO Executive Committee of the Task Force to protect children from sexual exploitation in tourism.