We’re proud to join The Code, a group dedicated to combating child exploitation in the travel industry. As members, we're committed to raising awareness about this important issue and taking action to prevent it together with other travel companies around the world.
WHAT IS THE CODE?
The Code is short for the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in travel and tourism. It is a multi-stakeholder initiative on a mission to provide awareness, tools, and support to the travel and tourism industry to prevent the sexual exploitation of children.
The Code was created in 1996 after the first World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children through a partnership between ECPAT Sweden (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking), the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, and several Swedish tour operators.
THE ISSUE?
Sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism is a pervasive problem, this encompasses everything from child sexual exploitation in the context of prostitution and child sexual abuse material to trafficking and online abuse. "Voluntourism" and orphanage tourism also create opportunities for offenders to exploit children.
The good news is that a huge number of companies, both large and small, are taking bigger steps to help protect children from exploitation.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CODE?
As a member of The Code, SpiceRoads is committed to finding ways to meet these 6 criteria:
• Establish policies and procedures against the sexual exploitation of children and regulation of "voluntourism".
• Train employees in children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation, and how to report suspected cases.
• Include a clause in contracts throughout the value chain stating a common repudiation and zero tolerance policy of sexual exploitation of children.
• Provide information to travelers on children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation of children, and how to report suspected cases.
• Support, collaborate, and engage stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children.
• Report annually on the implementation of the six criteria of The Code.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
See how others in travel and tourism are also fighting against this serious issue around the world: https://thecode.org
