UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will on 13 July 2017 host a one day Transition Meeting on Implementing the Recommendations of the Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism (SECTT) in Madrid, Spain. The meeting, which will bring leaders from key partner agencies involved in the Global Study together, is co-hosted by UNICEF, The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and ECPAT International, in consultation with the High-Level Taskforce on the Global Study.
The launch of the Global Study in May 2016 was the culmination of efforts of partners all over the world from law enforcement, the private sector, civil society, INGOs, the UN, academia, regional mechanisms and governments. The process involved nine regional reports, 15 national studies, 42 expert papers and documentation from ten consultations with children and youth, including victims of sexual exploitation, and nine regional stakeholder consultations. A child and youth version of the Study was also produced.
As part of the release of the Global Study, more than 20 national launches and other events were also convened, and many of the Study partners are already implementing the recommendations, in areas such as regional and national reviews, specific initiatives in voluntourism, sport, and law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and development and implementation of codes of conduct for employees, as well as expanding the use of technology and other innovations in child protection to prevent SECTT. This meeting will consider linkages and build on existing initiatives and mechanisms to support systematic implementation of the Study’s recommendations that are directed at four key constituencies: (i) governments, (ii) the United Nations and international and regional entities, including law enforcement (iii) the private sector and (iv) civil society organisations.