European Resource Center

The International Summit to address the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism (SECTT) will be convened on June 3-8 in Bogota, Colombia. The Summit will be hosted by the Government of Colombia, which has taken a number of innovative child protection measures in the travel and tourism sector. The event will bring together world-wide leaders representing governments, international and regional multilateral organisations, the private sector, law enforcement agencies, child rights experts and non-governmental organisations to raise international attention to SECTT and provide opportunity to exchange good practices and experiences. It will explore accelerated actions for implementation of the recommendations of the Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism, which are aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals and provide a roadmap to address this worldwide challenge. At the Summit, Ms Ajla Omerbegovic is attending on behalf of International Forum of Solidarity EMMAUS. A Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional meeting will also be held on Sunday 3 June in Bogota with primary focus on sexual exploitation of children (SEC) in the context of conflict, post-conflict, humanitarian crisis and refugee/migration settings.

3 JUNE

A Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional meeting on Sunday 3 June was held in Bogota with primary focus on sexual exploitation of children (SEC) in the context of conflict, post-conflict, humanitarian crisis and refugee/migration settings.

In particular, during this meeting the members and partners of the ECPAT from the region prepared one of the technical sessions to be held during the International Assembly. This session will be held on Wednesday 6 June, 08:00-09:30. Participants of the preparatory meeting on Sunday will then take the lead in raising awareness amongst the wider ECPAT membership on this increasingly important issue.

The meeting on Sunday 3 June was divided in three main parts:

• A session for participants to share their experiences, knowledge and country peculiarities with regards to SEC in the humanitarian context;
• A brief session on Child Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, led by ECPAT International; and
• A working session dedicated to collectively prepare for the technical session on Wednesday.

5-6 JUNE

The 7th ECPAT International Assembly is taking place in Bogotá, Colombia on June 5 and 6. The Assembly is an opportunity to address the constantly shifting landscape of child sexual exploitation and how ECPAT and members can evolve as a movement to meet these emerging challenges.

7 JUNE

On 7 June, the ECPAT network and its members are going to organize an International Summit on Child Protection in Travel and Tourism, where participants, especially MENA members, will present the issues that their regions are dealing with regarding the exploitation of children in tourism, with the grand focus on sexual exploitation.

8 JUNE

On 8 June, multiple parallel regional meetings will be held with the topic on Regional Consultation on Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children (Eastern Europe and Central Asia - EECA and South Asia - SA Region). After the consultative meetings, an Annual General Meeting with all present members will be held, where the general conclusions, proposals and amendments will be presented, as a summary on what was done in previous summits, meetings and consultations.

With this Meeting, the 7th ECPAT International Assembly will officially be closed.