On December 10 , coinciding with International Human Rights Day , Aethnic and fapmi-ECPAT Spain organized in Barcelona the conference “Tourism and childhood: challenges and opportunities for a model free of violence” , a meeting that brought together public administrations, social entities, tourism companies and professionals in the sector with a common objective: to move towards a more ethical, responsible and protective tourism model for children and adolescents .

The conference is part of the project developed throughout 2025 by both entities, which has included a pioneering diagnosis in the city of Barcelona and the creation of the DITUR Working Group , aimed at the co-creation of a sectoral protection protocol.

Responsible tourism and children’s rights: a global and local view

The first round table , entitled “Responsible tourism: a global and local challenge for the protection of children’s rights” , allowed us to situate the conceptual and institutional framework of the problem.

The Mr. Jose Antonio Donaire, Commissioner for Sustainable Tourism Management of Barcelona City Council, highlighted that the violation of children’s rights in tourism is linked to two key processes: the internationalization of tourism and the increase in situations of social vulnerability.. He called for stronger institutional action and stressed the need to promote responsible tourism that analyzes the real impact of tourism practices and guarantees the traceability of supply chains. Donaire also questioned the way tourism addresses children, often from a consumerist perspective and with little respect for their right to free development.

For its part, the Mr. David Bondia, Barcelona Ombudsman, provided an intersectional view of the city, emphasizing that tourism is a transversal activity that can affect multiple rights. He explained the role of the Ombudsman’s Office in detecting and addressing violations, as well as the importance of strengthening existing networks (such as that of local ombudsmen) to raise awareness and prevent violence. He also pointed out the lack of resources in cases of non-recent violence, which can lead to revictimization processes.

The Mrs. Selma Fernandez, program coordinator of fapmi-ECPAT Spain , insisted that talking about responsible tourism necessarily implies addressing child protection as a structural element of the tourism model.. He warned about the characteristics of the sector that can generate risks, such as temporary nature, fragmentation of responsibilities or lack of traceability, but also about its preventive potential. Fernández highlighted the importance of talking about child sexual exploitation , and not “sex tourism”, and highlighted the key responsibility of the private sector beyond awareness-raising, focusing on operational mechanisms for prevention, detection and response.

From diagnosis to action: tools and experiences from the sector

The second round table , “From diagnosis to action: experiences and tools for protective tourism” , emphasized the specific responses that can be given by the sector.

The Mrs. Selma Fernandez and the Mrs. Carla Cama, director of local projects at Aethnic , presented the results of the diagnosis developed in Barcelona, ​​which shows a clear gap between the objective seriousness of the problem and social perception. However, more than half of the people surveyed recognize that the massive influx of tourists can increase the risk of violence against children and adolescents. Citizens identify as the most sensitive areas the spaces associated with mass tourism, nightlife and prostitution, and a very high percentage states that they do not know any protocol or reference for action in the event of detecting a risk situation.

In this context, the work of the DITUR Group was presented , created at the beginning of 2025 as a networking and co-creation space , from which the Sectoral Protocol for the prevention of violence against children and adolescents in tourism has emerged .

Voices from the DITUR Group: good practices and real commitments

The table included testimonies from members of the DITUR Group who shared experiences and commitments from different areas.

The Mrs. Catalina German, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at RIU Hotels & Resorts , explained how the identification of risk situations in its establishments led the chain to adhere to The Code. in 2012. Since then, RIU has implemented a corporate policy against child sexual exploitation, with ongoing staff training, employee training and awareness campaigns. Alemany stressed that this is a systemic problem that requires clear institutional support and stated that “if at the end of the year nothing has happened, something is probably being done wrong”.

The Mrs. Natalia Ruiz, founder and CEO of Trip Trup, focused on common practices in international tourism that can violate rights, such as visits to orphanages, volunteering with minors, visits to schools during school hours, the use of images of children for commercial purposes or the normalization of child labor as a tourist attraction. He defended the role of travel agencies as key agents in preventing these situations, focusing on training, raising customer awareness and applying codes of good practice based on a basic principle: not doing in other territories what we would not accept in our own community .

Finally, the Mrs. Maria Jose Tesouro, head of the Tourist Assistance and Coordination Section of the Barcelona Provincial Council , presented the TurismeS program, aimed at putting people at the centre of tourism policies. He highlighted the four lines of work of the Provincial Council: social inclusion, gender perspective, universal accessibility and professional improvement of the sector, and reaffirmed the institutional commitment to implementing the DITUR protocol in the territory. As a complementary example, he explained the development of the Protocol against gender-based violence in tourist accommodation , a pioneering initiative that establishes a framework for action, training and adherence for companies in the sector.

A step forward towards tourism with rights

The conference highlighted the need to continue strengthening networking, provide the sector with practical tools and assume co-responsibility in the protection of children’s rights. The DITUR Protocol thus becomes a key tool for moving towards a a tourism model that not only generates economic activity, but also guarantees rights and well-being .

Event organized with the support of Barcelona City Council.