The ″Code of Conduct″ (CC) for the Protection of Children from Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Tourism has reached the tourism industry. It has so far been signed by nearly 1,000 companies and associations in 37 countries (March 2011). According to the child rights organisation ECPAT, it has thus become a key instrument for the tourism industry in the fight against child prostitution. The signatories have founded their own organisation, ″The Code″, which is registered in Sweden and currently has its office at ECPAT USA in New York. A uniform logo has been developed, as well as globally applicable procedures both for signing and for implementing the Code of Conduct.
Only the tourism industry (tour operators, hotels, etc.) can sign the Code of Conduct. It is countersigned by the ECPAT groups in the respective countries. Their role is to assist companies in the introduction and implementation of the Code of Conduct. For example, they offer training programmes for tourism enterprises.
As one of the members, the German Church Development Service (EED) supports and promotes the work of ECPAT.
Further information: www.thecode.org/
(184 words, 16 lines, June 2007, TW 47, updated March 2011)