Oral statement by ECPAT International

Dette innlegget ble holdt i FNs Menneskerettighetsråd, i den interaktive dialogen med FNs Spesialrepresentant på vold mot barn, Marta Santos Pais som ble holdt 7. mars 2017.

Les hennes årlige rapport om vold mot barn, som inneholdt informasjon om ECPATs globale studie på seksuell utnytting av barn i reiseliv og turisme, her. Rapporten hadde rundt 67 bidragsytere, inkludert flere FN aktører. 

Oral statement by ECPAT International

RESPONDING TO THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN, PROTECTING ALL CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Mr. President,

We wish to congratulate the Special Representative for the very informative report and for her relentless effort for the ending of Violence against children.

The last 20 years have witnessed unprecedented expansion of global travel, with international tourist arrivals growing from 527 million to 1.1 billion; and even the most remote parts of our planet are now visited.

Released in May 2016 and a product of over two years collaborative efforts among over 60 organizations, a global study report on the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (SECTT) has provided the largest bank of information ever gathered on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism

The Study illustrates that tourism can provide great economic opportunities to countries, but also presents foreseeable risks to children, if adequate protection measures are not in place.

The Study further challenges the traditional understanding of SECTT by uncovering key findings, such as the fact that no country is immune and that impunity for offenders continues to prevail due to overall inadequate response to this crime. Also, opportunities for offenders have multiplied; there is no typical offender or victim profile; and in many parts of the world, social norms and attitudes play a key role in fuelling social tolerance for the crime.

In making a call to collective action for Awareness-raising; Prevention; Protection; En of impunity and Care and Recovery for victims, the Study entrust the global community with an important roadmap to facilitate the engagement of stakeholders, at all levels, for the purpose of ending the terrible crime of SECTT.

The Global Study on SECTT is a reminder that the clock is ticking, we only have 13 years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and its specific target 16.2 which states: «End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children.» ECPAT International urges States to secure the means for implementation of the SDGs and its target 16.2, and hence provide for robust protection systems that address all forms of sexual exploitation of children, including the context of travel and tourism.

Oral Statement by ECPAT International – 7 March 2017 – Agenda Item 3 – UN Special Representative on violence against children