Human trafficking is a global issue in the travel and tourism industry. With the use of online, classified ads, human trafficking has moved off the streets and behind the closed doors of hotels rooms. Women and children are targeted and manipulated by traffickers who transport victims from city to city via airlines and buses. Exploiters use hotels rooms knowing that systems are not in place to identify and protect the victims. Over 80% of arrests take place in airports and hotels. Unfortunately, very few victims are identified and fewer still receive the help and services they need.

PACT International is a global network of organizations working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes.  The Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code) a joint venture between the tourism private sector and PACT-USA, is the only voluntary set of business principles travel and tour companies can implement to prevent child sex tourism and trafficking of children. By enacting responsible policies, members of The Code play an essential role in protecting children from the sexual exploitation that is particularly prevalent in the travel and hospitality industry. 

SITE has officially joined the efforts of PACT to end child exploitation and human trafficking by signing The Code signifying our commitment to speak out against sexual exploitation of women and children and our intention to leverage our influence in the industry to help victims become survivors.

We will use our channels of communications and events to inform and educate members, suppliers and customers about this critical issue and encourage their support for PACT's work around the globe. Actions include training for staff and members, connecting SITE chapters to regional PACT offices/NGOs, communication of procedures for reporting of possible cases to local authorities and submission of reports to The Code organization.

While our industry is well aware of environmental sustainability and green measures, the important issue of human rights is seldom talked about. Check out these resources to learn more about PACT and The Code, and how you can get involved in ending human trafficking at the source.  

Turning Awareness Into Action:

SITE has been an active and vocal supporter of PACT and its work since 2016. If you’re interested in joining the PACT initiative against child exploitation and human trafficking you’ll find some great ideas here: SITE Cares CSR Activities and Chapter Resources Guide.

PACT Resources:

• The ECPAT-USA Tourism Child-Protection Code (The Code)
• Specialized Training
• Online Training (25 minutes)
• Free Tools and Resources
• "Does Your Hotel Know?"
• Travel Buyer's Guide
• How Travel Suppliers Can Help End Child Trafficking
• Anti-Trafficking Hotel Checklist
• TraffikCam App to help identify and stop trafficking
• Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism 2016

Articles and Videos about PACT, SITE, and Human Trafficking

• Marketplace: "Convention Planners, Hotel Chains Enlisted to Help Spot Sex Traffickers"
• MeetingsNet: "SITE Takes Action Against Human Trafficking"
• The Meetings Magazine: "A Call to Action: Human Trafficking and the Meetings Industry"
• Meetings and Conventions: "Working Together to Eliminate Human Trafficking in Travel and Tourism"
• International Meetings Review: "SITE Global at IMEX: SITE Nite and Signing 'The Code'"
• MeetingsNet: "Speaking Out Against Human Trafficking"
• Eturbonews: "Ensuring a Better Response for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking"
• Meetings and Incentive Travel: "Eyes Wide Open"
• Huffington Post: "To Human Traffickers, Runaway & Homeless Youth Are Walking Prey"
• ACCOR Group: "Working Together to Combat Child Sex Tourism"
• CNN: "7 ways to spot that someone is being trafficked"