ECPAT-USA

End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes

Panel Discussion on the Global and Local Sex Trade

May 17th, 2013 | Comments Off

Thursday, June 6, 6:30 pm
2 W. 64th Street, New York City

The New York Society for Ethical Culture presents a Panel Discussion on the Global & Local Atrocity of Sex Trafficking. This event is open to the public. Panel Members to include:

Stuart Perin, Author
Mara Schneider, FBI Agent, Violent Crimes Against Children Squed
Gloria Browne-Marshall, Professor, John Jay College
Dipti Mehta, Performer/Writer
Max Walker, ECPAT-USA, Associate Director

Moderated by Dr. Joe Chuman, Ethical Culture Society Leader

Utilizing Cloud Technology to Protect Children from Sex Tourism

May 14th, 2013 | Comments Off

Originally posted on PR Web. Stay tuned to learn more about innovations to the Code technology that will help companies implement steps to protect children in travel and tourism.

(PRWEB) May 14, 2013

Tourism promotes culture exchange and is used as a tool for economic development. Sadly, tourism infrastructure and services is also used by offenders for the exploitation of children, including child sex tourism. The Code is using an innovative approach to combat the problem by working with the tourism private sector.

To ease and assist member companies in implementing The Code’s six criteria efficiently, the organization has developed and just launched a number of ‘cloud-based’ tools for tourism professionals as a means to strengthen action against sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. The new online services include: a member portal with easy, step-by-step guidance on implementation and reporting; interactive e-learning modules for tourism professionals from different sub-sectors and positions within the industry; and a user-friendly website to provide transparency and awareness.

“Tourism professionals are crucial allies in protecting children from sexual exploitation,” says Andreas Astrup, General Manager of The Code. “These tools were specifically developed for them. Managers can track their progress of implementation and generate reports easier, while front-line staff has easy access to free e-learning modules in local languages.”

The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism [The Code] is a multi-stakeholder organization with the mission to provide awareness, tools and support to the tourism industry. The focus is to help tourism professionals prevent, identify and report any suspicious cases of sexual exploitation of children. Developed in 1996 by ECPAT Sweden, The Code has operated as an independent non-profit organization led by a multi-stakeholder board since 2004. Today, the network has nearly 1,300 signatories across 42 countries around the world. Some members of The Code are leading the way: Accor, Delta Airlines, Hotelplan Suisse, Kuoni Travel, Lotus Travel, Melia Hotels, Resfeber, Swiss Federation of Travel Agencies, Thomas Cook and TUI Travel.

The core instrument of The Code is the six criteria that any tourism business or company can implement and commit to: (1) establish an ethical policy, (2) train personnel, (3) introduce a related clause in contracts with suppliers, (4) provide information to travelers, (5) provide information to key persons at the destination, and (6) to report annually to The Code on the initiatives undertaken.

The Code initiative has received international media coverage including recent features on CNN and BBC.

For those interested in learning more about The Code’s work, interviews with staff are possible upon request.

US companies interested in joining the Code, click here.
International companies interested in joining the Code, click here.

Michelle Guelbart Presents at NYU Tisch Center on the Travel and Tourism’s Role in Ending Trafficking

May 6th, 2013 | Comments Off

A Special Presentation – ECPAT USA
On Thursday, April 4, Tisch Center students and faculty gathered for a special lecture about a very important issue. Representatives from ECPAT USA (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking), a children’s rights organization with a mission to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children, gave a presentation on the issue of human trafficking in the United States and its relationship to tourism and hospitality. Here is a summary of the discussion facilitated by Michelle Guelbart, MSW.

Human trafficking is one of the most atrocious human rights violations of the current generation. It generates as much as $32 billion, making it the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry after drug trafficking. The issue affects children especially because of their vulnerabilities, as evidenced by the fact that an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked worldwide. While many in the United States perceive human trafficking to be a problem of developing countries, human trafficking in the U.S. is no less severe with 100,000 to 300,000 American youths running the risk of being trafficked each year, and 25% of child sex tourists comprising of North Americans.

Private Sector Project Coordinator, Michelle Guelbart with Dean Bjorn Hanson

Private Sector Project Coordinator, Michelle Guelbart with Dean Bjorn Hanson

Perpetrators of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) have used hotels as the location for their crime as traffickers believe that hotels lend anonymity. With the use of online classified advertisements, CSEC has moved from the streets to behind closed hotel room doors where children are sold repeatedly. Statistics have now shown that 44% of child victims in NYC were exploited in hotels. Increasing pressure is being placed on the tourism and hotel industry by legislators, investors, the current administration, and consumers. One example is a 2012 campaign by U.K.- and U.S.-based investors seeking human trafficking policy information from hospitality and hotel brands prior to the London Olympics.

Activities that hospitality and hotel companies are being asked to undertake cover three major areas. First, brands are asked to draft policies against human trafficking and CSEC in their properties. Second, companies are urged to train workers to identify and respond to signs of exploitation. Last, they are encouraged to inform suppliers and contractors about anti-human trafficking and anti-CSEC policies put in place. One initiative that has emerged to support the industry in addressing the issue is the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct or “The Code.” The Code (www.thecode.org) is an industry-driven initiative with a mission to provide awareness, tools, and support to industry members to combat and prevent the sexual exploitation of children. To-date, several major brands have become The Code signatories. These brands include Wyndham Worldwide, Carlson Companies, Hilton Worldwide, Delta Airlines, Real Hospitality Group, and Sabre Holdings.

There are a number of benefits of taking action to prevent and mitigate human trafficking including practical and risk management. By addressing the topic, brands can guard against legal, reputational, and operational risks.

In the same way that it is both ethical and beneficial for hospitality and hotel companies to answer the call to action, hospitality and tourism education programs are in a most advantageous position to raise awareness of future industry professionals regarding human trafficking and CSEC. Ensuring that there is more issue discussion and incorporating the topic in the curriculum are some of the ways to do so. Students can also advocate for innovative ways to equip their peers to tackle this human rights violation as agents of change in the industry.

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Michelle Guelbart, MSW, Private Sector Project Coordinator, ECPAT-USA, manages relationships with corporations, NGOs, and responsible investors to encourage and provide technical assistance on corporate social responsibility initiatives to protect children. Michelle has also published papers on mitigating the risk of trafficking in the travel industry. She holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s School of Social Work and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University at Albany. For more information visit www.ecpatusa.org or contact the presenter, ECPAT-USA’s Private Sector Project Coordinator Michelle Guelbart: michelle@ecpatusa.org.

View the post here.

500 Letters Milestone Reached for the NY State Advocacy Campaign Supporting TVPJA – thanks to you!

May 2nd, 2013 | Comments Off

by Camelia Tepelus, PhD- State Policy and Program Development Director

ECPAT USA is delighted to announce that thanks to your help we surpassed our targeted milestone of 500 letters sent by over 250 individuals to the 2013 NY State Legislature, asking Senators and Assembly Members to pass the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act (Paulin/Lanza, A.2240/S.2135). This bill would considerably increase protections for children victims of trafficking in NY State, recognizing that buying children for sex is child abuse, aligning better federal and state-level protections concerning trafficking of children, and improving victims access to social services.

ECPAT USA is deeply grateful to all individuals signing our letters and especially to the faith community, notably the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights and the United Methodist Women Catskill-Hudson, that helped us spread the message to their constituents. The TVPJA passed NY Senate in March (in a version sponsored by Sen. Gallivan S.2511) and currently has over 78 sponsors in the Assembly and 18 co-sponsors in the Senate (Paulin/Lanza version). We will keep you updated with the legislative progress on the bill.

We also take this opportunity to announce the forthcoming ECPAT USA event “Stand-Up for Children”, to take place on May 20, 6 – 9 pm at the Sky Room Times Square, NYC highest luxury rooftop lounge. It will be an evening of stand-up comedy, unlimited wine and beer open bar, exquisite hors d’oeuvres, silent auction and raffle with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, all while supporting the work of ECPAT on protecting children’s rights. Individual tickets start at $75, and corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. We look forward to seeing you there! You can get your tickets here www.ecpatusa.org/standup.

Photo: Assembly Member Amy Paulin promoting the TVPJA.

IGLTA Joins ECPAT’s Fight Against Child Trafficking

May 1st, 2013 | Comments Off

LGBT Association Signs Code of Conduct at 30th Annual Global Convention

CHICAGO (May 01, 2013)—The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association will officially join ECPAT’s efforts to end child prostitution and trafficking at the May 2 opening session of its Annual Global Convention. IGLTA is the third association to sign the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct. The Code is an internationally accepted set of voluntary guidelines that travel companies can implement to prevent child exploitation. The Code has been signed by over 1,200 companies internationally in 42 different countries.

Tanya Churchmuch, Chair of IGLTA Board Announces Code Signing. Photo courtesy of @ECPAT_michelle

Tanya Churchmuch, Chair of IGLTA Board Announces Code Signing. Photo courtesy of @ECPAT_michelle

As a signatory of the Code, IGLTA will use its channels of communication to inform members about this critical issue and encourage their support for ECPAT’s work. According to the United Nations, an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked worldwide each year.

IGLTA Board Member Rika Jean-Francois, Commissioner ITB Corporate Social Responsibility, was instrumental in creating this partnership. ITB Berlin, one of the world’s leading travel trade events, signed the Code in 2011.

“IGLTA signing the Child-Protection Code sends a strong signal to its members and the tourism industry as a whole,” says Jean-Francois. “I believe that it is part of our social responsibility to speak out against sexual exploitation of children and to stand up for human rights in tourism.”

As the local Code representative in the United States, the ECPAT-USA will serve as a resource for the association and participate in the signing at the 30th anniversary convention next month. ECPAT-USA is the regional member of the ECPAT network, which works internationally to protect children from exploitation and trafficking. Private Sector Project Coordinator, Michelle Guelbart, will represent ECPAT-USA at the Code signing on May 2nd.

IGLTA welcomed members who are also signatories of the Code including representatives from Delta Air Lines, ITB Berlin, Accor Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, and Argentina. Photographed with Michelle Guelbart and John Tanzella who signed the Code.

IGLTA invited member signatories of the Code: Representatives from Delta Air Lines, ITB Berlin, Accor Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, and Argentina. Photographed with Michelle Guelbart and John Tanzella who signed the Code.

“ECPAT-USA is thrilled to partner with IGLTA in raising awareness about the unique role travel companies have in identifying and protecting victims of trafficking, said Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA. “The international reach of IGLTA and its members is crucial to fight trafficking in all regions of the world.”

ABOUT IGLTA: IGLTA is the leading member-based global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism. The association represents LGBT and LGBT-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, and events, as well as the LGBT travel consumers they wish to serve. For more information, visit www.iglta.org and follow us at www.facebook.com/IGLTA.

Media Contact: LoAnn Halden
Loann.halden@iglta.org
+1.954.253.4095

To learn more about joining the Code in the United States, click here.

Travel Industry Taking on Trafficking: ACTE signs the Code

April 24th, 2013 | Comments Off

Contributed by: Michelle Guelbart, MSW

Tuesday, April 24th, ECPAT-USA proudly welcomed the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) as a member of the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct. The company joins ECPAT-USA in their work to protect children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism. ACTE became the second American association to sign the Code. The Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct is an internationally accepted set of guidelines travel companies can use to implement comprehensive policies and programming to effectively prevent and mitigate child trafficking.

Carol Smolenski signs the Code with ACTE. Photo by @EndTraffick

Carol Smolenski signs the Code with ACTE. Photo by @EndTraffick

As a signatory of the Code, ACTE will create a policy against the sexual exploitation of children, raise awareness with their members, and report annually. As an association, ACTE will use their voice to inform members about the important role they play in protecting children from exploitation.

ACTE signed the Code at their Global Education Conference where they celebrated their 25th Anniversary. The Code was signed during their Closing Session. Speakers included Sam Gilliland, Chairman and CEO of Sabre Holdings and Amy O’Neill Richard from the U.S. Department of State who introduced the issue and the travel industry’s important role in combating trafficking. Afterwards, Suzanne Neufang, President of the ACTE Board, Greeley Koch, Chief Staff Officer for ACTE, and Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA were welcomed to the stage to sign the Code.

“We recognize the need for responsibility within our industry,” said ACTE President Suzanne Neufang in ACTE’s press release. “We are dedicated to ensuring that everyone in our global ACTE network has the education and awareness to identify and report signs of human trafficking while traveling for business. Together, industry leaders like ACTE can work toward ending this abhorrent practice.”

After the signing, Carol Smolenski, Michelle Guelbart, Private Sector Project Coordinator, and Jami Day, ECPAT-USA Board Member interacted with conference participants during a Sabre Holdings sponsored a Toast to Humanity Closing Reception. ECPAT-USA informed travel buyers and suppliers about their unique roles in addressing trafficking. Sabre Holdings signed the Code in 2013 during the launch of their Passport to Freedom Project.

“Having the private industry work with the public sector, along with associations like ACTE, will assist in making great strides toward creating awareness on this important issue,” said ACTE Executive Director Greeley Koch.

How Travel Buyers Can Help End Trafficking
Buyers of corporate travel are in a position to express their interest in working with suppliers that sign the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct. When suppliers send their Request for Proposals (RFPs) to travel suppliers they can add a line inquiring of the supplier is a member of the Code. For sample language to include in your RFP contact michelle@ecpatusa.org.

How Travel Suppliers Can Help End Trafficking
ECPAT-USA can work with your company to put in place programming to educate your staff about trafficking and how to address suspicious incidences. You can:
(1) Create a policy against the commercial sexual exploitation of children
Official policies send a zero-tolerance message to staff letting them know that they should not look away when they suspect trafficking. Staff will feel more empowered to react to their suspicions. The policy will also build a sense of pride in their company for being responsible. Sample policy is available.
(2) Engage in ECPAT-USA’s Training
Train staff about commercial sexual exploitation of children, the signs of trafficking, and your protocol for reacting. Companies can receive training certificate and acknowledgement as partners.
(3)Sign the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct
The Code is an internationally accepted voluntary set of guidelines travel and tourism companies can implement to prevent child sex tourism and trafficking of children. Signatories of the Code are supported by ECPAT-USA to comprehensively and sustainably address trafficking.
To learn more about joining the Code click here.

Worldwide Travel Group, LLC Signs the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct

April 19th, 2013 | Comments Off

Mombasa, Kenya, April 18, 2013 –(PR.com)– During a small ceremony on Saturday morning Aurélie Sivadier, Executive Director of Worldwide Travel Group, LLC became the 3rd tour operator and 14th American company to sign the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (the Code) and have committed to implementing the six guidelines against the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The group launched E-Trip Africa in 2012, which organizes safaris and treks in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. “We believe that the only way to do business is by following a strong set of principles and ethics. East Africa is not very transparent and ethics are often set aside in favor of better returns. But in today’s global society, consumers don’t want to have any part in this. By providing an ethical and transparent option, we believe this will push the entire tourism sector in a more positive and sustainable direction,” explains Mathieu Lahalle, one of the groups directors. etripimage

The sexual exploitation of children is a rampant problem in many of the most popular tourist areas in Africa. Along the Kenyan coast it has been estimated that over 30% of children (boys and girls) between the ages of 12 and 18 are actively engaged in prostitution. This number nearly doubles for those that have sold their bodies at least one time before they were 18.

“We quickly recognized that among all of the negative impacts of tourism, Child Sexual Exploitation is clearly the most harmful, having such a direct impact on our children. We are proud to lead the way towards stomping out this unacceptable behavior,” said Aurélie just before signing the Code.

As a signatory of the Code, E-Trip Africa has created a policy against the sexual exploitation of children, will train staff on the issue, and educate customers.

“We are pressing the more than 250 hotels that we do business with to implement the code,” said Ben Jennings, the General Manager of E-Trip Africa. “So far there has been a positive response and the hotels and camps seem enthusiastic to clean up the image of the area.”

To fully implement the Code, E-Trip Africa will work in collaboration with ECPAT-USA, the leading policy organization in the United States which seeks to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children through awareness, advocacy, policy, and legislation.

To learn more about the Code visit: http://ecpatusa.org/what-we-do/the-code/

For more information visit: http://www.etripafrica.com/

Cadwalader’s VS Confronts Publishes Article By Michelle Guelbart

April 18th, 2013 | Comments Off

VS. Confronting Modern Slavery in America is dedicated to heightening public awareness of human trafficking in America and providing a platform for anti-trafficking organizations and agencies to work collaboratively and innovatively together, outside their organizational silos, toward common goals. VS. is an innovative pro bono project conceived and executed by the Women’s Leadership Initiative of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

The website published an article entitled Mitigating the Risk of Sex Trafficking in Travel and Tourism Companies by ECPAT-USA’s Private Sector Project Coordinator, Michelle Guelbart, MSW. The paper looked at the significant role that attorneys in the hospitality industry can play in addressing the risks of human trafficking associated with the operation of hotels, airlines, and travel and tourism providers. Attorneys can help companies evaluate the legal, reputational, and operational risks associated with human trafficking concerns. They can also advise clients seeking to incorporate industry best practices, including through the development of internal guidelines for identifying and responding to scenarios in which indicators of trafficking are identified. The article was adapted from a version written for Michelle’s presentation at the 2012 Hospitality Law Conference.

To read the article, click here.
To learn more about ECPAT-USA’s work on corporate social responsibility, click here.
To learn more about the Code, click here.

ECPAT USA testifies on April 18 at the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

April 18th, 2013 | Comments Off

ECPAT USA Executive Director Carol Smolenski testified on April 18, 2013 for the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee Hearing: Tier Rankings in the Fight against Human Trafficking, at the Rayburn Office Building in Washington DC.

ECPAT USA testified in the company of other international trafficking experts including the Hon. Mark Lagon (Georgetown University), Nguyen Dinh Thang (Boat People SOS), Suzanne Scholte (North Korea Freedom Coalition), Brian Campbell (International Labor Rights Forum), Esther Choe (trafficking victim) and David Abramowitz (Humanity United).

The text of all the expert testimonies can be downloaded here:

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-hearing-tier-rankings-fight-against-human-trafficking

by Camelia Tepelus PhD, State Policy and Program Development Director

ECPAT USA welcomes new NYS legislation proposed by State Chief Judge Lippman reforming the NY juvenile justice system

April 17th, 2013 | Comments Off

by Camelia Tepelus, PhD, State Policy and Program Development Director, April 17, 2013

ECPAT USA welcomes new legislation S.4489 sponsored by Senator Nozzolio and introduced at the request of NY State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, proposing raising the age of criminal responsibility in NY from 16 to 18.

Currently, NY is one of only two remaining states having the age of criminal responsibility set at 16 years, which makes it possible for children and teens exploited in trafficking and the sex trade to be treated as criminals and prosecuted for prostitution, instead of being seen as victims of sexual exploitation, abuse and trafficking, as defined at federal level.

The pending bill will ‘stress treatment, rehabilitation and the aim of effective reintegration into the community (…) In short, all emphasis is upon salvaging a young person’ (S.4489, http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S4489-2013).

ECPAT USA Executive Director Carol Smolenski and State Policy and Program Development Director Camelia Tepelus, PhD met on April 17, 2013 State Chief Judge Lippman, strategizing about further working to ensure that minors victims of sex trafficking in NY State receive protection and assistance services in New York legal system.

Photo: NY Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman together with ECPAT USA Executive Director Carol Smolenski (left) and State Policy and Program Development Director Camelia Tepelus, PhD (right) on April 17, 2013.

We will shortly post our overview of the ECPAT USA interview with NY Chief Judge Lippman.

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