Today, February 22, 2024, at the initiative of the Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia – MODS, the Declaration on commitment to the prevention and protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation* in the context of tourism and travel was signed.
This declaration represents a significant step forward towards ensuring the safety and well-being of children in the tourism industry and was signed by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, YUTA (National Association of Travel Agencies), HORES (Business Association of the Hotel and Catering Industry of Serbia), and MODS. The signatories committed to implementing measures and regulations that will ensure zero tolerance towards sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
The Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia and UNICEF Serbia provided significant support for this initiative.
The signatories of the Declaration undertake to:
- Adopt an internal policy that commits to zero tolerance towards sexual abuse and exploitation of children in their business, as well as to the prevention and effective protection of children from this violation of their rights.
- Ensure that candidates undergo appropriate screening to prevent the employment of perpetrators of criminal offenses against the sexual freedom of minors in positions related to work in contact with children.
- Include a clause in employment contracts and other forms of employment related to the prohibition of sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
- Organize regular training of employees and other associates on their obligations regarding sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
- Establish mechanisms for reporting suspected sexual abuse or exploitation of children by your employees/co-workers, which are safe, confidential, and accessible.
- Enable efficient investigation in cooperation with the competent state authorities in case of suspicion that there has been sexual abuse or exploitation of children of service users within the company’s business activities.
* In accordance with the General Protocol for the Protection of Children from Violence, adopted in February 2022, sexual abuse of children is defined as the involvement of a child in sexual activities that he does not fully understand and cannot give his consent for, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared as well as all sexual activities that violate laws and taboos in society. Sexual exploitation of children is defined as the use of children for sexual activities for the benefit of other persons, including the exploitation of children for prostitution, pornography, and the like.
The conducted activities are part of the project „SAFE TRAVEL“ – Protection of children from sexual exploitation and abuse, in cooperation with the institution of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia i Serbian Chamber of Commerce.