Events Industry Council partners with The Code to support efforts to end child trafficking

Today, the Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition, and standards, has announced it has joined The Code, a multi-stakeholder initiative to prevent the sexual exploitation of children.

EIC has become signatories of The Code which provides awareness, tools and support to the travel and tourism industry to protect children against sexual exploitation. The Code is a voluntary set of six criteria that members commit to, to keep children safe. The Code is supported by ECPAT, a worldwide network of organisations working to end the sexual exploitation of children around the world, with events taking place on 30 July 2021 to mark World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2021. 

Amy Calvert, Chief Executive Officer, Events Industry Council, said: "EIC supports all efforts against human trafficking, and we are very proud to have joined The Code to support its global mission. According to the International Labor Organization (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. Given the scope and scale of our industry we have the ability to be a catalyst for meaningful and lasting change and progress."

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. The Code will support EIC, a global federation supporting the business events industry, by collaborating and engaging with stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children; establish policies and procedures; train employees; include a clause in contracts; and provide information to travellers on how to prevent and report suspected cases. 

"ECPAT International welcomes the newest member of The Code, Events Industry Council," said Thomas Mueller, Deputy Executive Director at ECPAT International. "They join over 350 member companies worldwide in a shared, proactive commitment from the travel and tourism industry to protecting children from sexual exploitation. It is vital that the private sector works together with the ECPAT network, law enforcement, and local communities on this difficult but important issue."

"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," said Yvonne Chen, ECPAT-USA's Director of Private Sector Engagement. "We look forward to working with them to raise awareness of these issues and protect children around the world."

For more information on the Events Industry Council, visit: https://www.eventscouncil.org/.

For more information on The Code, visit: www.ecpatusa.org/code.