Accor joins ECPAT and TAT to protect children

Accor has joined ECPAT and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to protect children and combat commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Together they have launched a training programme for Accor hotel General Managers and Certified Trainers in Thailand that will be extended to all properties in the country. Accor will then enlarge the campaign to other destinations where Accor hotels are located in co-operation with ECPAT and the respective National Tourism Organisation in each country.

The employee-training programme will focus on educating existing staff on how to deal with situations involving child prostitution as they arise. Accor is developing a brochure on commercial sexual exploitation of children that will be put into the welcome packets for all new employees.

Accor has also printed a poster that will be prominently displayed in all hotels aimed at educating guests on its commitment to protecting children, sustainable tourism and protecting the environment.

This will include communicating information to customers to raise awareness regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children, while educating tourists on each country's legal code regarding child prostitution and the penalties for unlawful behaviour.

Accor Vice President Human Resources - Asia, Mr Fabrice Tessier, said the company's commitment to working with ECPAT and protecting children started at Accor's Paris head office with its subsidiary Carlson Wagonlit Travel giving brochures to tourists.

"Accor is deeply committed to responsible tourism and protecting children wherever we do business. We need to educate both our staff and our customers on these important issues and working with ECPAT is an important step towards realising this goal."

ECPAT International Tourism Coordinator, Ms Sendrine Fabie, said it was important for ECPAT to have good tourism partners like Accor and the TAT to help address and reduce the problem.

"It is a significant step for ECPAT to have greater alliances with the private sector. 

"We have been quite successful in working with governments over the past decade, the next step is trying to business involved. Accor is amongst the very first hotel groups to join forces with ECPAT and I hope we can replicate this model further. 

"Front line staff are usually approached first, it is at that level where you have to empower employees. If they don't feel free to speak with management, or think that management will not support them, they are more likely to turn a blind eye to what is happening."

TAT Director Tourism Services Development Department, Mr Vunsadej Thavarasukha, agreed: "The Thai government is committed to protecting children from commercial sexual exploitation. Working with ECPAT and Accor will help raise awareness on what needs to be done to solve this problem."

Other Accor initiatives include developing and extending best practices from Accor Indonesia's 'Tree for a Child' programme which aims at reducing poverty for underprivileged children and creating opportunities for them to grow in healthy an happy surroundings.

Accor is also training young people from high-risk environments in collaboration with UNICEF's Youth Career Development Programme. The six-month hotel and tourism training course targets young people between 16-17 years old, helping them develop skills for possible future employment in Accor hotels.

ECPAT International is a Bangkok-based, non-governmental organisation established in 1990 and dedicated to the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography, and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. The ECPAT network consists of groups and individuals working in over 50 countries around the world.