An industry as widespread, hidden and complex as child trafficking can often seem impossible to address. Especially in a globalized society, preventing exploitation in value and supply chains can be difficult; however, companies, government officials and civil society organizations are facing this issue head on by working together to address the exploitation of children in travel and tourism.
On January 29, UNICEF USA Senior Director of Public Policy Mark Engman attended an event on Capitol Hill, where global hospitality company Marriott International joined ECPAT-USA to sign The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. By signing onto The Code, Marriott became part of a global network of nearly 300 members of the travel and tourism industry across 191 countries – including UNICEF USA partners American Airlines and Delta Airlines – that have committed to protecting children from commercial sexual exploitation. Signatories do this by:
- Establishing child protection policies and procedures
- Training employees in prevention and reporting methods
- Mainstreaming zero-tolerance policies into contracts throughout the value chain
- Providing travelers with information on how to protect children and report potential cases of abuse
- Engaging and supporting stakeholders in preventing child exploitation
- Producing annual reports on The Code’s implementation.
The Code is a crucial way of empowering companies to protect children and equipping travelers with the information they need to spot and stop commercial sexual exploitation. “It is part of the critical public-private partnership needed to eliminate human trafficking everywhere, including in the United States,” said Engman. “That is why Sen. [Bob] Corker, Sen. [Amy] Klobuchar and Sen. [Ben] Cardin – all Congressional leaders in the fight against trafficking – spoke at this ceremony to recognize Marriott’s commitment.”
UNICEF USA congratulates Marriott International, Delta, American and the other companies who have signed onto The Code, as well as our lawmakers who have made child protection a domestic priority.
Take Action
Everyone has a role to play to ensure that no child has to experience exploitation or abuse as a result of our travels. Here are three ways you can take action to protect children and end trafficking:
- Are you a travel or tourism business? Consider putting children first by signing onto The Code.
- When planning a trip, check out ECPAT-USA’s suggestions for traveling responsibly for tips on how to ensure that your travels don’t come at a child’s expense.
- Learn ECPAT-USA’s Child Trafficking Travel Indicators for signs on how to identify and support a child who is being trafficked. Remember, it is better to report something suspicious and be wrong, than not report and be right.
