Ethical Tourism: The reality of Human Trafficking

We are approaching a very heavy traveling season. During the winter and the holiday season people will be visiting family, friends or warmer climates. The tourism industry is vital to many poor third world nations, but unfortunately the dark side of globalization has created a horrific component to this economy. It is called Human Trafficking or more specifically sex trafficking. In his recent encyclical Caritias in Veritate Pope Benedict XVI described the Catholic moral concern for this issue.      

… in other cases international tourism has a negative educational impact both for the tourist and the local populace. The latter are often exposed to immoral or even perverted forms of conduct, as in the case of so-called sex tourism, to which many human beings are sacrificed even at a tender age. It is sad to note that this activity often takes place with the support of local governments, with silence from those in the tourists’ countries of origin, and with the complicity of many of the tour operators. -#61

In this reference the Pope alludes to the complicit partners of this nefarious business including tour operators. Recently a scandal was reported by the USA Today  regarding the discovery by the Chinese police of a brothel operating inside a Hilton hotel. Hotels are a vital part of the tourism industry. The way they address this issue within their premises will make an important impact on this practice.

One way that companies are getting involved is by adopting policies that explicitly prohibit human trafficking. In the scandal involving the Hilton Company the article went on to say that “Hilton Worldwide says it’s working on rolling out an internal code of conduct designed to prevent child sex trafficking in hotels.” The Hilton Company learned from its negligence and we applaud it for taking this crucial step and outlining a plan to have this policy in place worldwide by next year.

End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT)  is an organization whose mission is to combat this aspect of Human Trafficking. ECPAT/USA is promoting a code of conduct for companies to adopt in order to take that first step in addressing their complicit involvement with this issue.

Many religious investors are in dialogue with members of the tourism industry to promote this code. However the conscientious consumer can have a greater influence in addressing this issue. ECPAT has an action resource for consumers to address this issue if they see it happening in their own tourism location. If you see any evidence of child sex tourism happening please visit the ECPAT site and click the “Report Child Pornography or Sexual Exploitation” button to communicate this to ECPAT. Otherwise click on this link to print out postcards of concern  for you to mail to the company in question. If Hotels are aware of a growing consumer population that cares about this issue it will work as leverage for companies to adopt the code.

In the above quote the Pope also suggested that governments have a responsibility in addressing this issue. The United States Government has adopted some policies to regulate this and currently it has another legislation that will establish a grant program to benefit minor victims of sex trafficking. Please visit the ECPAT action page and lend your voice in support of H.R. 5575 – “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010.”

2 Responses to “Ethical Tourism: The reality of Human Trafficking”

1. Carol Smolenski says:

   November 23, 2010 at 11:40 am

   Thanks so much for talking about the tragedy of child sex tourism. One other thing that everyone can do to help is to become a visible voice against sex trafficking by purchasing a tassatag. (www.tassatag.org). These are big colorful hand-woven heavy cotton luggage tags that help you spot your luggage more easily while reclaiming children’s lives. It is practical, environmentally sensitive, fair trade, and with it you can make a difference. Tassatag is a project of ECPAT-USA. The tags are made at the Good Shepherd Sister’s Regina Center in Thailand. Purchasing these beautiful luggage tags support the women who work at the Center and support ECPAT-USA’s work to get the US travel industry to step up and do the right thing to protect children.
2. johngonzalez says:

   November 24, 2010 at 1:20 pm

   Thank you Carol, and thank you for adding this other consumer option. Sometimes people can feel that there is no way that they can address issues of globalization. But the fact is that these movements and actions, large and small, are making a difference. Thanks again. Peace,