I have several times written about an international organization called ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking in Travel), which ccombats the quite considerable number of organizations that promote tours to areas of widespread child prostitution. At the New York Times Travel Show a week ago, I again met Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of that organization, who later wrote me about the refusal of the U.S. travel industry to sign on to a Code of Conduct for dealing with the problem. In the hope that this inertia may be overcome, I am reprinting an e-mail from her that deals with the campaign:
One thing we didn't talk about last year was the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. It is a voluntary Code that companies in the travel industry can adopt so that they are not involuntarily facilitating child sex tourism (www.thecode.org). It has been signed by almost 1,000 companies around the world, but only 4 in the United States: Carlson Companies, ElaBrasil, Amazon Tours, and ASTA. Unfortunately, unlike in the rest of the world, US companies are extremely reluctant to take a stand.
We continue to try to get U.S. companies to adopt the Code of Conduct. Even if they are not willing to sign the Code, we ask that they at least begin to adopt policies that protect children and to train their staff. We have had some success recently with Choice Hotels. After a grassroots campaign, they have agreed to have a policy against commercial sexual exploitation of children and agree to do training of the staff of their new franchisees about their policy. We will be helping them develop the training.
We are actively courting other US companies but it is very difficult. However, in Mexico and Belize where we have worked for the last few years, we have had great success promoting the Code of Conduct. On our website is a brochure about the great companies in Mexico that have signed the Code of Conduct.
Thank you so much for being one of the people in the travel industry who is willing to talk about this ugly subject. Please let me know if you would like more information about this topic.
I'd be interested to know if any of our readers have any idea as to why the U.S. travel industry is apparently unwilling to sign on to this cause.
Would the answer "money" be too obvious? Nearly one million children disappear in the United States every year. Nearly two-thirds of them are never seen or heard from again. This is not an aggregate number, this is an annual number. Something is being done with these children that is likely easier than getting them out of the country. It is probably horrifying profitable and involves both the meat and organ processing industries. Sometimes the truth is more shocking than fiction. God help us.
Why do we see other countries as the biggest threat to the American Way of Life? Then ignore the Figures that jhfc quotes above? Absolutely Shocking. Should Treating our Children with Respect begin with the Ages we allow some Kids to get Married? Maybe the Travel industry wants these men who visit these Dubious Destinations to stay there - Hopefully in a Nice,Warm Prison?
I can't believe anyone would say no to signing the code. What possible reason could they have? I will try to find out which companies refused to sign, and they won't be getting my business or referrals until they adopt the code. I will seek out the ones who have signed, and transfer my business to them. I'm sure that I won't be alone in taking this action. It's unconscionable that we don't try and help these children in any way, large or small, that we can. I need my morning coffee, so this may not be well worded, but I felt compelled to say something.
I was just forwarded this blog and I as a signer of "The Code" I would like to give you my take. First of all there is no excuse for those legitimate businesses in our industry not to. Most of them do not want to admit that there is a problem or want to pretend that the problem does not exist. They do not want to get involved and want to take the easy way out. The growth of the internet has greatly facilitated the growth of Child Sex Tourism.
I have been speaking out about this cancer within the sport fishing industry for the last 11 years. As a business owner I believe that we should do everything that we can to improve the lives of those upon whom our industry touches. The exploitation of children in the sport fishing industry has grown incredibly over the last few years. In recent years we have witnessed the demand for CST at numerous trade shows across the US and have seen it first hand in the Brazilian Amazon. One of the main shows where this has become a problem is at the Safari Club International convention. I have asked SCI to sign the Code with no interest from them whatsoever. Another organization who will not address the problem is the International Game Fish Association. We also have an association within the fishing industry called the Peacock Bass Association (which I helped form) run by the travel writer Larry Larsen. Larry is aware of this problem and will not do anything to help shine the light on this horrendous crime.
In 2004 we received an award from Brazil's President Lula for our "Social Responsibility" (we run a medical/dental clinic and school that provides free care for the locals that is funded by our sport fishing operation), Yet after singing the Code and speaking out about these crimes we are now facing enormous pressure form branches of the Brazilian Gov. who are trying to shut us down. The people involved in CST are very powerful. The only way to combat this is for all in the travel industry to do the right thing and speak out about this evil. Signing the Code is a first step. If we can get the majority in the travel/leisure industry to sign it then we can make a difference. Pressure must be brought on those companies, associations and governments who are trying to keep this quiet. Recently a major news organization went undercover and filmed a travel agency selling sport fishing trips that included minors as part of the package (at a trade show in the US). As of yet this has not aired and I am not sure that it will. Your can see two stories about this that aired on Fox Atlanta last November and this past January here:
I agree with jhc: MONEY is the reason why a travel and tour establishment would not sign the Code (or The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism).
I live and work in the Philippines and unfortunately because of MONEY there are travel and tourism establishments which wittingly or unwittingly allow their facilities to be 'misused' by child-sex tourists.
I know for a fact that the Philippine Plaza Hotel is a signatory of the Code (only because it is part of the ACCOR group of hotels worldwide and ACCOR hotels are signatory to the Code).
Responsible tourists (which are the majority) look for responsive, responsible, reliable tourism industry establishments. Being a signatory to the Code is an indication that the establishment respects basic human rights, even if these rights belong only to children.
Many thanks. I hope I can get to meet responsive and responsible industry people and establishments through your blog.
Nearly one million children disappear in the United States every year.
Nearly two-thirds of them are never seen or heard from again.
This is not an aggregate number, this is an annual number.
Something is being done with these children that is likely easier than getting them out of the country.
It is probably horrifying profitable and involves both the meat and organ processing industries.
Sometimes the truth is more shocking than fiction.
God help us.
I was just forwarded this blog and I as a signer of "The Code" I would like to give you my take. First of all there is no excuse for those legitimate businesses in our industry not to. Most of them do not want to admit that there is a problem or want to pretend that the problem does not exist. They do not want to get involved and want to take the easy way out. The growth of the internet has greatly facilitated the growth of Child Sex Tourism.
I have been speaking out about this cancer within the sport fishing industry for the last 11 years. As a business owner I believe that we should do everything that we can to improve the lives of those upon whom our industry touches. The exploitation of children in the sport fishing industry has grown incredibly over the last few years. In recent years we have witnessed the demand for CST at numerous trade shows across the US and have seen it first hand in the Brazilian Amazon. One of the main shows where this has become a problem is at the Safari Club International convention. I have asked SCI to sign the Code with no interest from them whatsoever. Another organization who will not address the problem is the International Game Fish Association. We also have an association within the fishing industry called the Peacock Bass Association (which I helped form) run by the travel writer Larry Larsen. Larry is aware of this problem and will not do anything to help shine the light on this horrendous crime.
In 2004 we received an award from Brazil's President Lula for our "Social Responsibility" (we run a medical/dental clinic and school that provides free care for the locals that is funded by our sport fishing operation), Yet after singing the Code and speaking out about these crimes we are now facing enormous pressure form branches of the Brazilian Gov. who are trying to shut us down. The people involved in CST are very powerful. The only way to combat this is for all in the travel industry to do the right thing and speak out about this evil. Signing the Code is a first step. If we can get the majority in the travel/leisure industry to sign it then we can make a difference. Pressure must be brought on those companies, associations and governments who are trying to keep this quiet. Recently a major news organization went undercover and filmed a travel agency selling sport fishing trips that included minors as part of the package (at a trade show in the US). As of yet this has not aired and I am not sure that it will. Your can see two stories about this that aired on Fox Atlanta last November and this past January here:
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A_brazil_sex_tourism_112309
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A-sex-tourism-pt.-2-011110
With your help we can make a difference and help stop this crime.
Sincerely,
Philip A. Marsteller
President
Amazon Tours, Inc.
www.amazontours.com
I live and work in the Philippines and unfortunately because of MONEY there are travel and tourism establishments which wittingly or unwittingly allow their facilities to be 'misused' by child-sex tourists.
I know for a fact that the Philippine Plaza Hotel is a signatory of the Code (only because it is part of the ACCOR group of hotels worldwide and ACCOR hotels are signatory to the Code).
Responsible tourists (which are the majority) look for responsive, responsible, reliable tourism industry establishments. Being a signatory to the Code is an indication that the establishment respects basic human rights, even if these rights belong only to children.
Many thanks. I hope I can get to meet responsive and responsible industry people and establishments through your blog.