SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN TOURISM: 18th Meeting of the Task Force

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN TOURISM: 18th Meeting of the Task Force
Date: 10 March 2006
Location: Berlin, Germany

The Task Force to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation in Tourism is a Global action platform of tourism-related key players from the government and the tourism industry sectors, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and media associations whose aim is to prevent, uncover, isolate and eradicate the sexual exploitation of children in tourism. It is an open-ended network which was established by the World Tourism Organisation in 1997 as a follow-up to the Stockholm Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.

Meetings programmes generally start with a thematic session on a subject of particular relevance to the members of the Task Force, and are followed by a reporting session on what practical steps have been taken since the last meeting.

The next consultative meeting of the Task Force will be held on 10 March 2006 in Berlin, in connection with this year's edition of the Berlin ITB - International Tourism Fair. The thematic session will focus on campaign design and implementation for the prevention of sexual exploitation of children in tourism (SECT). It will feature guidelines and practical examples of campaign actions for the prevention of SECT. During the meeting, the Task Force will also provide opportunities for participants to exhibit their respective campaign material and posters. Those interested in displaying such material are invited to contact our Secretariat well in advance.

The thematic session will be followed by a reporting session, open to national tourism administrations (NTAs), tourism industry, NGO and media representatives who wish to report on current actions to prevent SECT and exchange experiences on ways to combat this practice.

Moreover, there are two upcoming vacancies on the Executive Committee of the Task Force: one vacant seat reserved for the tourism industry, and the other an "open" seat (originally reserved for the media). The two new Board Members will be elected during the next Task Force meeting of 10 March. Representatives from the industry, media or any other field related to child protection, sustainable development or responsible tourism interested in joining the Executive Committee are invited to apply by 3 March 2006.

For more information, contact:
Task Force Secretariat
World Tourism Organisation (WTO)
Fax: + (34) 91 567 8219
Email:

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Task Force to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation in Tourism

Mission Statement

The Task Force to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation in Tourism is a global action platform of tourism-related key-players from the government and the tourism industry sectors, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and media associations whose aim is to prevent, uncover, isolate and eradicate the sexual exploitation of children in tourism.

It is an open-ended network which was established by the World Tourism Organization in 1997 as a follow-up to the Stockholm Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (August 1996).

The Task Force's on-line service, the Child Prostitution and Tourism Watch, provides information on current projects and activities, partners' tourism policy documents, related facts & figures and other measures to help prevent sexual abuse of children in tourism networks (read more).

-> Composition of the Executive Committee of the Task Force

Now Available:

Final Reports for the Regional Consultations for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Tourism

Africa in French and English* (full document pdf - 2.832 KB)
Americas in Spanish and English* (full document pdf - 4.739 KB)
Asia and the Pacific in English* (full document pdf - 7.314 KB)
Europe in English* (full document pdf - 2.877 KB)
* Documents are in the original language in which they were presented during the consultations.

Read also:

The WTO Statement on the Prevention of Organized Sex Tourism
The joint statement by IATA and WTO on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism

Task Force Meetings:

The Report on the 17th Task Force meeting (London, 14 November 2005)
The Report on the 16th Task Force meeting (Berlin, 12 March 2005)
The Report on the 15th Task Force meeting (London, 8 November 2004)
The Report on the 14th Task Force meeting (Berlin, 13 March 2004)
The Report on the 13th Task Force meeting (pdf file) (London, 10 November 2003)
The Report on the 12th Task Force meeting (Berlin, 8 March 2003)
The Report on the 11th Task Force meeting (London, 11 November 2002)

http://www.world-tourism.org/protect_children/

International Campaign Against Sexual Exploitation of
Children in Tourism

The sexual exploitation of children in tourism (SECT) often referred to as "child sex tourism", is a global phenomenon that affects both tourism sending and destination countries. It has impact on millions of children each year and constitutes a violation of the human rights of the child.

Although fed by supply and demand between tourism generating and receiving countries, it is a result of a complex interplay of social, cultural and economic factors. The commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism has been recognized by governments as harmful to tourism and it has come under increased scrutiny by the international community. Several institutions at the international, regional and national levels have taken responsibility to implement measures aimed at combating it.

The international campaign for the protection of children from sexual exploitation in tourism, launched in 1997 by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) Task Force, aims at promoting a socially responsible and sustainable tourism that respects the rights of the child. Its main objective is to prevent sexual abuse of children occurring within the tourism channels and facilities by creating effective networks and sound partnerships among the private and public sectors, governments, the tourism industry, international organizations and NGOs.

At the end of 2000, WTO started to pool resources with the European Union (EU). Since that date, a total of 2 million euros have been committed by the EU to support a number of interactive projects coordinated by WTO which have led to awareness-raising and capacity-building actions in the tourism sector to counter the sexual exploitation of children. These projects are jointly implemented with NGO partners, namely the ECPAT Group, the Family and Child Care Centre, the International Federation of Journalists and Terre des Hommes/Germany.

A successful and sustainable international campaign needs to be actively supported by all those who have an interest in the development of tourism, as well as in defending the rights of the child. These include governments, who can develop and enforce laws, policies and programmes to combat SECT; the tourism industry who can adopt self-regulatory measures and professional codes of conduct against it, raise awareness and educate personnel; the local population at tourist destinations, including local businesses, who can take measures to ensure that it is not condoned or promoted in their communities; non-governmental organizations and child rights campaigners, who can advocate for changes in laws and policies and assist child victims with recovery and reintegration into society; tourists and travellers who should refrain from participating and actively denounce it.

You too can do something about it. Join the campaign.