Since 2006 I work for ECPAT USA promoting TheCode in Cancun, Riviera Maya and Cozumel, in Mexico.
I want to point out how much interest I have found in the travel industry of this region to sign TheCode and how important it has been for the prevention of children sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation of children is an issue which make people ashamed and normally do not want to talk about, but when we explain to the private and public sector about the phenomena and that it is necessary to get involved they do it quickly. They understand very soon that sexual exploitation of their children is not one of the touristic attractions they want to offer to the visitant. In Cancun, Riviera Maya and Cozumel, all the hotel assotiations, travel agencies assotiations, taxis unions, tourism workers union, commerce assotiations, and many individual touristic enterprises have signed, and also the authorities, as a sign of mutual committment and support.
One of the greatest thing of this project is that the information reaches most of the communitiy, as most of them work for the tourism sector. There are commpanies who have signed that have more than 10,000 employees and one of the committments of TheCode is to train all the staff members. This means that all these employees get information on what it is children sexual exploitation and gives them elements to prevent it and denounce it, not only at their work but also at home.
The materials they produce help to create conscience among the travelers and let them know about the damage they can provoque for an unresponsable tourism. The contract clause creates a "free-zone" whithout sex tourism which gives confidence to the tourist that they won't find any sex tourism situation during his/her trip and this raises the quality standard of the tourism in the region.
All these actions protect children from being abused, as before prosecuting someone or rescuing a victim, it is much better to have the crime committed and not to have victims.
I do believe in the sucess of this project as I can see its effects in the community and in the touristic destinations.
Thank you,
Amaya Renobales
Project Director
"Protect Children in
I am sorry, there is a mistake in one of the paragraphs I just wrote. I said:
All these actions protect children from being abused, as before prosecuting someone or rescuing a victim, it is much better to have the crime committed and not to have victims.
What I wanted to say is "It is much better NOT to have the crime committed and NOT to have victims".
Thank you,
Amaya Renobales
Project Director
"Protect Children in Tourism"
ECPAT USA
Hello Ms. Tepelus,
I encourage you to check out the entry at the following link: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/7716 They are also working to combat the exploitations of children in tourism. Perhaps you could link up and work together or exchange ideas around your similar interests and work. Good luck!
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Comments
Since 2006 I work for ECPAT USA promoting TheCode in Cancun, Riviera Maya and Cozumel, in Mexico.
I want to point out how much interest I have found in the travel industry of this region to sign TheCode and how important it has been for the prevention of children sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation of children is an issue which make people ashamed and normally do not want to talk about, but when we explain to the private and public sector about the phenomena and that it is necessary to get involved they do it quickly. They understand very soon that sexual exploitation of their children is not one of the touristic attractions they want to offer to the visitant. In Cancun, Riviera Maya and Cozumel, all the hotel assotiations, travel agencies assotiations, taxis unions, tourism workers union, commerce assotiations, and many individual touristic enterprises have signed, and also the authorities, as a sign of mutual committment and support.
One of the greatest thing of this project is that the information reaches most of the communitiy, as most of them work for the tourism sector. There are commpanies who have signed that have more than 10,000 employees and one of the committments of TheCode is to train all the staff members. This means that all these employees get information on what it is children sexual exploitation and gives them elements to prevent it and denounce it, not only at their work but also at home.
The materials they produce help to create conscience among the travelers and let them know about the damage they can provoque for an unresponsable tourism. The contract clause creates a "free-zone" whithout sex tourism which gives confidence to the tourist that they won't find any sex tourism situation during his/her trip and this raises the quality standard of the tourism in the region.
All these actions protect children from being abused, as before prosecuting someone or rescuing a victim, it is much better to have the crime committed and not to have victims.
I do believe in the sucess of this project as I can see its effects in the community and in the touristic destinations.
Thank you,
Amaya Renobales
Project Director
"Protect Children in
I am sorry, there is a mistake in one of the paragraphs I just wrote. I said:
All these actions protect children from being abused, as before prosecuting someone or rescuing a victim, it is much better to have the crime committed and not to have victims.
What I wanted to say is "It is much better NOT to have the crime committed and NOT to have victims".
Thank you,
Amaya Renobales
Project Director
"Protect Children in Tourism"
ECPAT USA
Hello Ms. Tepelus,
I encourage you to check out the entry at the following link: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/7716 They are also working to combat the exploitations of children in tourism. Perhaps you could link up and work together or exchange ideas around your similar interests and work. Good luck!
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
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