AIRLINE AMBASSADORS Signs Code of Conduct & Launches Train the Trainer program to Recognize Suspected Human Trafficking.
WHAT: Signing of ECPAT Code of Conduct
WHERE: Hogan & Lovells # 800 (go to Reception Desk ) 555 13TH St NW Washington, DC 20005
WHEN: April 28, 2014 5:00 PM
WHO: Airline Ambassadors represented by Nancy Rivard and Board member Christine Warnke joined Carol Smolenski, Executive Director, ECPAT-USA, Linda Smith (former Congresswoman and Founder of Shared Hope, Holly Smith – human trafficking survivor and Julie Fredericks of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants and members of Airline Ambassadors.
Washington, DC (April 28, 2014) – Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) was the first non-governmental organization and latest U.S. company to take a stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by signing the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code).
The Code, an industry driven responsible tourism initiative in collaboration with ECPAT International, funded by UNICEF and supported by The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), specifically focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in the travel and tourism industries. The Code has been signed by more than 1,000 travel industry members worldwide, and has 35 companies and signatories in the United States. Airline Ambassadors is the first NGO to become a signatory.
With support from Congressman Chris Smith, Airline Ambassadors initiated the first Congressional Briefing to airlines on this issue in July 2010. For the last four years AAI has advocated for child protection via industry specific human trafficking awareness training’s which have been given at 24 airports and other locations.
The signing will also kick off a Train the Trainer program for 25 flight attendants who are becoming certified to provide the training in their home communities. The “Train the Trainer” program will take place April 29 and Congressman Meadows showed support by writing a letter of commendation to the flight attendant trainers.
As a subscriber to The Code, AAI will implement policies that condemn child trafficking, and continue to provide training to their members and the public to recognize and report potential trafficking. They will also raise awareness among donors, business partners, and members by including information about the issue and The Code through their website, and by annually reporting on its progress.
According to Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to protect sexually exploited children, the purpose of The Code is to prevent and mitigate child trafficking, as well as encourage a socially responsible, child-wise tourism industry.
QUOTES FROM OFFICIALS AND EVENT HOSTS
Congressman Chris Smith,
“Worldwide the best estimates are that 600,000 to 800,000 trafficking victims are moved across international borders each year. Millions more victims are moved within national borders. But anti trafficking efforts have only recently turned to equipping transportation employees to identify victims in transit. Flight attendants are the “first line of defense” in the fight against Human Trafficking.” The training is easy, inexpensive, and already saving lives. I have no doubt, as the result of Airline Ambassadors trainings, hundreds, if not thousands more lives will be saved”.
Congressman Mike Honda, 17th Congressional District
“The U.S. State Dept. has determined that transportation professionals are among the best-placed to identify trafficking situations.”
Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, Office to Monitor Trafficking in Persons, Department of State
We’re well equipped to respond to this specific concern (human trafficking) thanks to the partners that have rallied around this issue: partners in the transportation industry like Airline Ambassadors and Delta Airlines, which are not helping just to make fighting trafficking part of the way our air carriers do business
Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA
“We are happy to welcome Airline Ambassadors and TravelTalk Media to the growing community of companies that are helping in the fight against the sex trafficking of children,” Airlines are unwittingly be used as venues for this purpose. If they do nothing to raise awareness or to prevent child trafficking, they risk becoming an unintentional conduit for abuse that takes place.”
Nancy Rivard, President, Airline Ambassadors
“Traffickers move their victims frequently to keep them powerless, and often use the speed and convenience of air travel. Airport and airline personnel are a first line of defense. With an increase in human trafficking around the world – we are being proactive in training personnel to recognize and report trafficking incidents
.About Airline Ambassadors International (www.airlineamb.org) utilizes airline contacts to provide for orphans and vulnerable children worldwide. Members volunteer as medical escorts for children in need, hand-deliver humanitarian aid to orphanages, clinics, and remote communities, and educate and advocate for child protection and human trafficking awareness around the world.
AAI’s Policy reads” Airline Ambassadors International
Corporate Policy against Child Trafficking
Airline Ambassadors International condemns all forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Airline Ambassadors International supports every child’s right to a safe and secure childhood, and is committed to the principle that everyone has the right to grow up and develop without fear of exploitation or harm. The protection of children from sexual exploitation is a moral imperative, and socially responsible business policies and practices must reflect this principle. Airline Ambassadors International will strictly comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, including the prevention of the use of its premises for such exploitation.
Policy on Protection of the Rights of Children:
Child Sexual Exploitation AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL condemns all forms of sexual exploitation of children.
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL supports every child’s right to a safe and secure childhood, and is committed to the principle that everyone has the right to grow up and develop without fear of exploitation or harm. The protection of children from sexual exploitation is a moral imperative, and socially responsible policies and practices must reflect this principle.
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL will strictly comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and will cooperate with law enforcement authorities to address any such instances of exploitation of which AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL or its employees have become a party to.
No employee or member may:
• Use or allow the use of any of AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s facilities, resources or equipment (including AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s computers and networks) for the viewing, storage, distribution, promotion or other use of materials in which children are depicted as engaging in any sexual act or are otherwise made an object for prurient interests;
• Enter into, on behalf of AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL, or otherwise, any business relationships or any other arrangement with any organization which the employee has reason to believe participates in any way in the sexual exploitation of children; or
• Use or allow the use of images or concepts that sexually exploit children.
All employees must be vigilant and immediately report to THE DIRECTOR, as appropriate, all situations that come to their attention in AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s premises or businesses where exploitation of children is suspected or appears to be intended.
Under no circumstances may AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s funds, property (including electronic devices and the AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s supported technology) or personnel be used to further or support activities that exploit children.
Child Labor Exploitation
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL does not recruit child labor, and supports the elimination of exploitative child labor.
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL will cooperate with law enforcement authorities to address any such instances of exploitation of which Airline Ambassadors International becomes aware.
Definitions:
Human Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.*
Labor Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.*
Sex Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion [or by a person who has not attained 18 years of age] for the purpose of a commercial sex act.*
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Sexual abuse where remuneration in cash or kind is made to the child or a third person(s). This includes through prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, and other forms of human trafficking.
*As defined by Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
