However there is good news ... or alteast hope and that there is action in place in South Africa, part of a global effort to prevent and bring further awareness to our communities and industry players.
African Chapter Tours have joined in with this fight as we pledge our support through www.thecode.org. This is the code of conduct for the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism. This is an industry driven tourism iniative in collaboration with EPCAT International, funded by UNICEF and supported by UNWTO. Herewith some of the facts and preventions provided by these organisations. We pledge to all interested tourism partners to show their support in such initiatives and help the prevention there of.
Who are these CHILD EXPLOITERS? This does not only include paedophiles which is a standard belief but increasingly so called "situational child sex abusers" who are sexually indiscriminate or wish to "experiment with child sex partners". Most perpetrators are local clients and a growing number are foreigners who are lesiure visitors or business travellers in a host country. South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup was an alarm for concern! Exploitation occurs in all countries mainly South East Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. The Western world accounts for the greatest demand for child sex. Some sex offenders convince themselves this is a good deed in that it helps the child to obtain money for food leading to better living conditions and for many some believe that the risk of contracting HIV is lower when engaging with a child than with an adult. However in some areas more than 50 per cent of children are infected with HIV.
Much of the awareness existing today is due to the efforts made by this non profit organization initiated in 1990 - EPCAT representing 65 counties, with the main goal to combat the commercial exploitation of children. After a declaration and an agenda for action was adopted, 122 nations committed themselves against all forms of commercial sexual exploitation of minors, with the Agenda for action covering co operation, preventative work, protection, rehabillitation and youth participation. These are the recommendations following the agenda for action during the World Congress in Stockholm in August 1996.
- Co-operation between countries and various sectors of society.
- Mobilising the tourist industry and the business world so that their facilities and networks are not used for child sex trade.
- Criminalising the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
- Actions to ensure that laws plans and programmes are established and carried out.
- Establish special units within the police
- Recovery and rehabilitation of children.
- Preventative measures in the form of education and information
- To establish an ethical policy regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children.
- To train the personnel in the country of origin and travel destinations.
- To introduce a clause in contracts with suppliers , stating a common repudation of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
- To provide information to travellers by means of catalogues,brochures ,inflight films, ticket slips, home pages etc.
- To provide information to local "key persons" at the destinations.
- To report annually.
To read more about THE CODE, please visit the relevant websites relating. www.fairtourismsa.org.za/thecode
LETS ALL CONTRIBUTE AND STAND TOGETHER TO STOP CHILD EXPLOITATION!
