ECPAT [to 8 November 2014]

Announcement of the Global Study and its Taskforce to End Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism
NEW GLOBAL TASKFORCE LAUNCHED TO END CHILD SEX TOURISM
Time to re-think what works, as the problem continues to outpace the response

4 NOVEMBER 2014, LONDON, UK: A new global Taskforce, launched in London today, aims to tackle the rapid acceleration of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. Eight eminent leaders from the travel industry, the United Nations, Governments and NGOs, under the leadership of Dr. Maalla M’jid Former Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, will re-think approaches to a crime that has, to date, outpaced every attempt to respond. The sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism is now a phenomenon of global dimensions, and as Dr. Maalla M’jid states, a phenomenon that “seriously harms countless children around the world, often with irreparable consequences.”…

…Offenders are increasingly adept at using the travel and tourism industries as a route to child exploitation and new developments have heightened the dangers for children: the rise of the Internet and greater access to international travel have expanded ‘demand.’ At the same time, social and economic disparities, poverty and lack of education – combined with weak child protection systems – have fuelled the ‘supply’ of children…
…The Taskforce will oversee the ECPAT International-initiated Global Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism, the first of its kind, funded by the Dutch Government.

“The global study, which will involve many actors at international, regional and national level – including children – aims to provide a global and updated picture of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism,” says Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid. “It will analyse its emerging trends and its global dimensions, highlighting the progress made and the remaining challenges since the last World Congress on the Sexual Exploitation of Children in 2008, in Rio. The Global Study aims to provide a set of concrete recommendations to improve government, non-government and private-sector responses to protect all children, without discrimination, from this crime”…

…Milena Grillo, Executive Director of Fundación Paniamor in Costa Rica and the ECPAT Representative at the Taskforce concludes: “It is ECPAT’s conviction that countries of origin and destination need to work together to put a halt on the growing crime of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents linked to travel and tourism. The Global Study aims to present these countries and other interested parties at global and regional levels – mainly the tourism industry, international cooperation agencies and the NGO community – with state-of-the art, reliable information to inform a multi-country and sustained commitment to ensure that this exploitation is not only punishable, but socially unacceptable. We owe this to the children of the world.”…