The Code is Embraced by South Africa’s Tourism Sector to Combat and Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation

South Africa. At least 40 000 children in South Africa are exploited as child prostitutes each year.  The number of trafficked and exploited children is not known. Tourists, visiting businessmen and locals, sexually abuse and exploit these trafficked and enslaved children.

Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) has brought the Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code) to South Africa. The Code is an instrument of self-regulation and corporate social responsibility, which provides increased protection to children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism. Thirty South African tourism businesses have signed The Code. This commitment requires adherence to six criteria that have been found to effectively prevent and combat commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC):

1. Establish an ethical policy regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children
2. Train personnel in the country of origin and travel destinations
3. Introduce a clause in contracts with suppliers, stating a common repudiation of commercial sexual exploitation of children
4. Provide information to travelers by means of catalogues, brochures, in-flight films, ticket-slips, home pages, etc
5. Provide information to local “key persons” at the destinations
6. Report annually.

Although South Africa is not a renowned child trafficking destination, certain realities in South Africa create the perfect backdrop for the exploitation of children:  the inflow of tourists, the ease with which people can cross its borders, high poverty levels and the lack of a specific anti-human trafficking law. South Africa has not yet made all forms of human trafficking illegal.  These deficiencies allow trafficked and exploited children into South Africa where they remain largely undetected and perpetrators escape punishment.

South Africa’s tourism businesses have shown their commitment to prevent and help exploited children by signing and implementing The Code.  These businesses have been training their staff, repudiating the sexual exploitation of children and educating their customers with posters and flyers. These two events in Johannesburg (8 June) and Cape Town (9 June) showcased thirty signatories, mainly South African companies that are new to The Code: 

Abang Africa Trust, Avis, Bickley House and Antrim Villa, Budget, Cape Grace, Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town Tourism, City Lodge Hotels Ltd., City Sightseeing, Coral International Cape Town, Don Suites, Europcar, Fairfield Tours South Africa, First Car Rental, Greenways Hotel, Hotel le Vendome, Hertz, Peech Hotel, Peermont Hotels and Casinos, Protea Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Southern Sun, Spier, Taj Cape Town, The Backpack and Africa Travel Centre, Thebe Tourism Group, Tourvest Group, Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays and Winchester Mansions.