When we talk about the travel and tourism industry, we generally associate its activity with economic impact. However, the impact of tourism is not only limited to the economic but can impact the entire spectrum of recognized human rights, including the rights of children and adolescents. In this regard, data from the report Sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (ECPAT International, 2020) shows that violence against children and adolescents is a violation of rights that is linked to this sector , both directly (we are talking about agents who promote, organize and receive trips where they facilitate aggressors’ access to children and/or to commit violence), and indirectly; for example, tour operators, travel agencies, or hotels, whose infrastructures are used by aggressors to commit violence against children and adolescents.
According to data from UNICEF and ECPAT (Sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, 2020), we are talking about more than 1 million victimizations per year that affect children and adolescents linked to this sector in forms of violence such as abuse and sexual exploitation of children , and more than 250,000 people who use the services of the tourism industry annually to commit these crimes , data collected in Fighting “child sex tourism” (European Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, 2013).
This project is being developed in collaboration between Aethnic and Fapmi, with the support of Barcelona City Council.
Since 2006, Aethnic has been developing projects and programs directly linked to the promotion of responsible and sustainable tourism aligned with the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda. It works with the main tourism actors in the city of Barcelona and, at the same time, focuses its efforts on strengthening, including and making visible local agents who operate based on the principles of the SSE and who, therefore, place collective well-being above economic profit at the center of their activity.
The Federation of Associations for the Prevention of Child Abuse ( FAPMI ) is the national reference entity in the defense of the rights of children and adolescents. Since 2011, it has carried out activities and projects related to the promotion of the rights of children and adolescents within the tourism industry, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations principles relating to businesses and children’s rights. It also develops, through specific global initiatives, such as the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children and Adolescents in Travel and Tourism, ethical and behavioral standards that allow companies in the sector to incorporate the perspective of children and adolescents into their business practices.
The general objective of this project is to contribute to the promotion of the rights of children and adolescents, with a gender perspective, within the framework of tourism activity. In this sense, the aim is to inform, train and raise awareness in the tourism sector to become aware of the risk factors associated with this industry that can affect children and adolescents, and to raise awareness and inform the general public, especially travel users, in order to promote their co-responsibility in the protection and defense of children’s rights.
In relation to the specific objectives, we highlight:
In short, the main objective of the project is to contribute to the promotion of the rights of children and adolescents within the framework of tourism activity to promote a responsible tourism model based on the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda . To this end, it aims to address in a coordinated manner, and in collaboration with the tourism sector, administrations and citizens, the prevention of violence against children in the context of tourism, using scientific knowledge as a reference base . It also aims to: a) promote the training and education of professionals in the sector , b) raise awareness among citizens , and c) promote ethical and behavioral standards that catalyze responsible practices that are consistent with the respect and protection of children’s rights.
Project localization:
Barcelona
Project schedule:
2024-2025