How are poverty and rigid gender stereotypes placing boys in Morocco at risk of sexual exploitation?  Read the full report

Two Global Events in New York

Driving holistic sustainability in travel and tourism that prioritises children’s right to live free from sexual exploitation and all forms of violence

 

Leaders, advocates, and experts join efforts to unpack two UN reports on child protection in travel and tourism, including on the phenomena of voluntourism to innovate, collaborate, and create solutions for child protection in travel, tourism, online and finance contexts. Join ECPAT InternationalPACT – Protect All Children from Trafficking, the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children SRSG VAC’s and distinguished partners for game-changing dialogues on making the industry truly sustainable. 

The events are organised on the 10th and 12th of October 2023, in New York, and in hybrid modality.

Register now for in-person or online attendance for these pivotal events and be part of the change:
10 October: A closer look at the phenomena of voluntourism
12 October: Protecting children in travel and tourism

About The Events

10 October: A closer look at the phenomena of voluntourism

Attend a pivotal panel discussion building on the findings and recommendations from the UN Special Rapporteur’s report – A study on the exploitation and sexual abuse of children in the context of travel and tourism; a closer look at the phenomena of voluntourism. Together with Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, the UN Special Rapporteur, and esteemed leaders from governments, private sector, and civil society organisations, we will dive into the UN Special Rapporteur report’s findings and recommendations.

Register to attend the event online or in-person here by 6 October.

Read the concept note here and download the event agenda here.

Learn more about the speakers here.

Read the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, Mama Fatima Singhateh here.

12 October: Protecting children in travel and tourism

Join us in a series of in-depth panel discussions on child protection in travel and tourism to unpack the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children SRSG VAC’s report on child protection in travel and tourism. This exclusive roundtable, convened by ECPAT International, PACT, and the SRSG VAC’s Office, will offer three thematic panels discussing:

  1. Children’s perspectives on how tourism delivers its promises of sustainable development
  2. The role of travel and transportation industry in preventing child exploitation
  3. The financial sector’s role in addressing child sexual exploitation

Register to attend the event online or in-person here by 9 October.

Read the concept note here and learn more about the panel discussions here.

Learn more about the speakers here.

Read the Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid here.

Read the Child-Friendly version of the Special Representative’s report to the General Assembly, available in English and other languages here.

Resources

Thematic Brief
Volunteering, Voluntourism, Tourism and Trafficking in Orphanages

Task Force on Orphanage Tourism, Voluntourism and Trafficking, Transforming Children’s Care Collaborative Platform

Read
Issues Paper
How Voluntourism May Facilitate the Sexual Exploitation of Children

ECPAT International

Read
Guidelines
The Code’s Voluntourism Policy

The Code (The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism)

Read
Case Study
Implementing the Legal Framework for the Prosecution of Orphanage Trafficking: A Cambodia Case Study

Better Care Network

Read
Case Study
Ireland – Regulating voluntourism as part of child protection standards for the travel and tourism industry

ECPAT International, Comhlámh End Orphanage Volunteering Working Group & End Orphanage Volunteering Working Group

Read
Case Study
The Netherlands – Regulating voluntourism as part of child protection standards for the travel and tourism industry

ECPAT International, Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands, Better Care Network Netherlands

Read
Case Study
Norway Promising Practice: The role of the travel and transportation industry in preventing and addressing the sexual exploitation of children

ECPAT International and ECPAT Norway

Read
Overview
Overview on Extrateritoriality and Extradition Legislation for Offences of Sexual Exploitation of Children

ECPAT International

Read
Colombia Case Study and Costa Rican Experiences
Protective Environments: a model to prevent child sexual exploitation in travel and tourism contexts

ECPAT International

Video Contributions

The following videos were submitted as independent contributions to the event organised by ECPAT International, PACT, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children – Building on the findings and recommendations from the UN Special Rapporteur’s report – A study on the exploitation and sexual abuse of children in the context of travel and tourism; a closer look at the phenomena of voluntourism held on 10th October 2023.

Emma Lynch

Church Engagement and Education Manager, on behalf of Comhlámh, the Irish association of development workers and volunteers

Watch

Catherine Germier-Hamel

Chief Executive Officer, Destination Mekong

Watch

Ana Maria Dionela

Executive Director, ECPAT Philippines

Watch

The following videos were submitted as independent contributions to the event organised by ECPAT International, PACT, and the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children – Building on the findings and recommendations from the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children Report to the UN General Assembly on child protection in travel and tourism held on 12th October 2023.

Raymond Kamano

Le Monde Des Enfants (MDE), Guinea

Watch

These events mark a crucial juncture in the international commitment to child protection in travel and tourism.

The combined insights and collaborative efforts are poised to reshape the landscape of sustainable development. Be part of these transformative dialogues and help shape a world where every child is protected from sexual exploitation and all forms of violence.

For media inquiries, please contact: 

  • ECPAT International: Andrew Beaton, Head of Communications, communications@ecpat.org 
  • PACT USA: Cécile Kirwan, Head of Communications,  ckirwan@wearepact.org
  • Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children: Team supporting the mandate on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, hrc-sr-saleofchildren@un.org
  • Office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children: Miguel Caldeira, Communication Officer, caldeira1@un.org
Join us in making a difference. Your participation will make a profound impact in our shared goal to create a world free from exploitation. Reserve your place today. Together, we can build a world where every child is safe. 

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