What can I do to be an influence for good in this situation?
When a person travels abroad on business they can fuel the problem of trafficking, or they can become part of the force to end it. If business travellers make it plain that they do not want to purchase sexual services from people who might have been trafficked or do business with those who promote it then they send a strong message to the local economy.
Whether you are only visiting a country briefly for a conference or are connected through a long-term contract, you can make a difference.
If you join the campaign “Business Travellers against Human Trafficking” you will be able to help in the following ways;
Report what you see.
- You can report anything you see which may be related to human trafficking by going to our “Contact” page. If you are in the US and wish to report suspected incidents of child sex tourism involving American citizens call the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tipline at: 1-866-DHS-2ICE (press 1). If overseas, to report suspected incidents of child sex tourism involving American citizens, contact the regional security officer at the local American embassy or consulate.
Complain to hotels who allow their premises and their immediate area to be used for child prostitution and trafficking.
- Members of Business Travellers Against Human Trafficking agree, that if they see what they suspect is under age prostitution, or young women or boys who may have been trafficked, either in the hotel where they are staying or in the immediate vicinity of the hotel with hotel guests, then they will inform the campaign via a web site or by email.
- The campaign will then contact the appropriate authorities. We will also contact that hotel and express the concerns of our members. The campaign would also ask an local Non Government Organisation (NGO) to make further investigations into the situation in that area.
Asking hotels, and airlines to adopt the code of conduct endorsed by the UN.
- The travel and tourism community has agreed a code of conduct for hotels and airlines regarding the sex trafficking problem.
- Members of this scheme would ask if the hotel where they are staying is complying with this code - which includes supplying information to their guests warning them against becoming involved with minors or with women who might be trafficked.
- Members could also ask airlines that they often use to display information against child sex tourism.
- The code of conduct can be found by going to www.thecode.org
Support local projects which benefit children.
- There would be an opportunity for members to express the desire to donate money towards projects which might be working for the benefit of children local to the area of hotels where they have stayed. The campaign would then supply details of such projects, facilitate the donation and arrange for a possible visit if that was desired.
- The project, on behalf of its members could approach hotels and enquire whether their corporate citizenship department would consider sponsoring a project which protected those vulnerable to trafficking.
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