Tourism |

Many travel organizations are committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation. They do this through the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism (‘The Code’). Member organizations train staff, encourage clients to report suspicions, impose requirements on their business partners, and combat abuses. In this way, they contribute to responsible tourism. Defence for Children – ECPAT is the local partner in the Netherlands for Dutch travel organizations that sign The Code and offers support in its implementation.

Affiliated travel and tourism organizations commit to:

Developing policies and procedures to protect children from sexual exploitation;
Training employees on child rights, protecting children from sexual exploitation, and reporting suspected cases;
Including a clause in contracts with business partners throughout the supply chain, stating the rejection of child sexual exploitation and a zero-tolerance policy;
Providing travelers with information on child rights, protecting children from sexual exploitation, and reporting suspected cases;
Supporting, involving, and collaborating with key stakeholders to prevent child sexual exploitation;
Reporting annually on measures taken to protect children from sexual exploitation in tourism.

These Dutch tourism companies have signed The Code:

Tips for responsible travel

Choose a travel organization that is member of The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation (‘The Code’).
Be alert and report suspected child sexual abuse abroad via Dontlookaway.nl or Dontlookaway.report or to the local police (national children’s unit or anti-trafficking unit).
If you suspect that children are being abused in your hotel, next to reporting at hotline and/or police, also report it to your travel organization. They can discuss this with the hotel or terminate the cooperation.
Do not stay in hotels where local children are allowed in the hotel rooms.
Avoid clubs, bars, massage parlours and brothels where children are present.
Do not give money to begging children or underage street vendors who work during school hours or late at night. Instead, support local organizations that focus on child protection, education or poverty reduction.
Be aware that you can’t take pictures of children without permission from parents/guardians.
Do not volunteer in orphanages and do not visit orphanages or shows with orphans. This maintains an undesirable system in which children grow up unnecessarily (long) in institutions. Read more about it at: Better Care Network or Learning Service.

Informational materials

Don’t Look Away website