This project involves ECPAT organisations in three South-East Asian countries: Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the protection of minors from commercial sexual exploitation in travel and Tourism (CST). More specifically, the project aims to make it more difficult for travellers to sexually exploit minors in tourist destinations. The activities envisaged in order to reach that goal include the promotion of international cooperation and connections with activities regarding the Code of Conduct in other tourist-sending countries and in tourist-receiving countries, as well as the strengthening of local NGOs in selected destinations and their support towards informing relevant parties about the Code and monitoring its implementation, with general awareness-raising by these and other stakeholders. The ECPAT programme for combating CST has been involved – on account of its expertise and geographical proximity – in the awareness-raising initiatives that are planned in the three Asian countries participating in the project. The first round of capacity-building and awareness-raising seminars is planned for September 2009.

ECPAT International’s anti-CST programme is directly involved in a three-year project initiated by ECPAT groups in Europe (ECPAT A, ECPAT D, ECPAT NL, ECPAT I, and the Tartu Child Support Centre) in collaboration with partners in six tourist-destination countries (Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, the Philippines, and South Africa). The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the protection of minors from Commercial Sexual exploitation in travel and Tourism (CST). More specifically, the project aims to make it more difficult for European perpetrators to abuse minors in developing countries and to put pressure on them to refrain from this severe infringement of human rights. The specific objective of the project is to increase the awareness, capacity and motivation to take action for the protection of minors from commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism (CST) among European actors involved in tourism from the public and private sectors, media and individuals. One of the expected outcomes of the project is also the publication (in hard copy) of the new ECPAT tool kit that was released – in electronic format – in view of World Congress III towards the end of 2008 and that, through the activities envisaged by the project, and additional feedback from practitioners using its modules, should be duly integrated and, where necessary, amended by the end of the project timeline.

ECPAT International has continued to provide its support to the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. Especially during the almost three years since early 2007, the Code has undertaken a process of restructuring of its governing bodies, better to face its successful growth and to support a fast-increasing number of Code signatories. From October 2008, the ECPAT Programme Officer for Combating Child-Sex Tourism has served the Code in the capacity of Acting Chair of the Executive Committee, following the resignation of the Chairperson in charge at the time. Good progress has been achieved over the past half year, also thanks to excellent collaboration with Code members from both the industry and NGO fold, towards a substantial change of the internal regulations, and new statutes of the organisation are expected to enter into force as of 1st September, 2009, with a transition period until the following Annual General Meeting to be scheduled in March 2010. In the meantime, membership of the Code has almost reached the 1,000 mark.