Events Industry Council takes a stand against child trafficking

The Events Industry Council (EIC), a global non-profit association for the business events industry, announced, 30 July, it had joined The Code, a multi-stakeholder initiative to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. The Code is a voluntary set of six criteria that members commit to in order to keep children safe. The Code is supported by ECPAT, a US-based anti-child trafficking organisation, with events taking place on 30 July 2021 to mark World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2021. Amy Calvert (pictured), CEO of the Events Industry Council, said: “According to the International Labor Organisation (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.” The EIC claims The Code is the world’s first and only voluntary set of business principles companies can implement to prevent the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and includes help on establishing policies and procedures; training of employees and providing information to travellers on how to prevent and report suspected cases. Thomas Mueller, deputy executive director at ECPAT International, commented: “The EIC joins over 350 member companies worldwide in a shared, proactive commitment from the travel and tourism industry to protecting children from sexual exploitation.” Yvonne Chen, ECPAT-USA’s director of private sector engagement, added: “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.” For more information on the EIC, visit here