The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards, has joined The Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code), a multi-stakeholder initiative to prevent the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children in travel and tourism throughout the world.

As a voluntary set of six criteria to keep children safe that its members commit to, The Code provides awareness, tools and support to the travel and tourism industry to protect children against sexual exploitation. As the world’s first and only voluntary set of business principles that travel and tourism companies can implement to prevent child sex tourism and trafficking, The Code is supported by ECPAT, a worldwide network of organizations working to end global child exploitation and abuse.

“EIC supports all efforts against human trafficking, and we are very proud to have joined The Code to support its global mission,” said EIC CEO Amy Calvert. “According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), over 40 million people are living in slavery worldwide. By working with The Code and ECPAT we can play our part in finally ending global human trafficking and exploitation. Given the scope and scale of our industry, we have the ability to be a catalyst for meaningful and lasting change and progress.”

EIC’s partnership with The Code was formalized on July 30, the same day as the annual World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a global awareness and action day designated by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness about the harms of human trafficking and its impact on the thousands of adults and children—primarily women and girls—who are held captive for sex or forced labor around the world each year, as well as raise funds for victims and survivors.

“ECPAT International welcomes the newest member of The Code, Events Industry Council,” said Thomas Mueller, deputy executive director at ECPAT International. “They join over 350 member companies worldwide in a shared, proactive commitment from the travel and tourism industry to protect children from sexual exploitation. It is vital that the private sector works together with the ECPAT network, law enforcement and local communities on this difficult but important issue.”

The Code will support EIC by collaborating and engaging with stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children; establish policies and procedures; train employees; include a clause in contracts; and provide information to travelers on how to prevent and report suspected cases.

“Partnerships with the private sector are crucial to achieving the goal of the ECPAT network and ECPAT-USA to eliminate the sexual exploitation of children, and ECPAT-USA is pleased to welcome the Events Industry Council as a new member of The Code,” said Yvonne Chen, director of private sector engagement for ECPAT-USA. “We look forward to working with them to raise awareness of these issues and protect children around the world.”

To learn more about The Code and how to become a member, go here.

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