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Code of Conduct for Travel Industry to Protect Children from
Sex Tourism
[NEW YORK, 21 April 2004] - Striking a blow against the sex tourism
industry that entraps tens of thousands of children, UNICEF today joined
the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the international advocacy
group ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking
of Children for Sexual Purposes) in launching a "Code of Conduct" for
the North American travel industry. The code is designed to protect
children from commercial sexual exploitation.
According to ECPAT USA, an estimated 25 per cent of sex tourists outside
the United States are American. In 1995, Business Week Magazine reported
that the United States was host to at least 25 sex tour companies.
"The travel industry is critical in the fight against commercial sexual
exploitation," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "We can
no longer look the other way while members of our own communities are
abusing children in the most unthinkable ways. These are perpetrators
of the worst kind. They not only display a callous disregard for human
dignity, they do so with total impunity."
Worldwide, a steadily increasing number of children have become victims
of commercial sexual exploitation. An estimated two million children
- mainly girls but a significant number of boys - are believed to be
part of the multi-billion dollar commercial sex trade. As many as one
third of those in prostitution in Cambodia are children. Mexico's social
service agency reports that there are more than 16,000 children engaged
in prostitution, with the highest number in tourist destinations.
To combat this growing problem, laws are being passed in many countries
which make it illegal to travel overseas to engage in sexual acts with
a minor. In Hawaii, the State Legislature is considering legislation
criminalising sex tourism. Last February a New York based travel agency
- Big Apple Oriental Tours - was shut on allegations it was organising
"vacations" overseas where young girls were available for sex. The owners
of the company were indicted. This is the first criminal indictment
of a US-based sex tour company.
For the full story, go to: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_20445.html
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