In-Flight Education

Today marks the launch of a new awareness campaign by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Task Force for the Protection of Children in Tourism. The campaign aims to raise the profile of exploited and trafficked children, especially through the venue of sex tourism, and formerly launches today at the World Travel Market 2008. Then the global launch will kick off next week, on Thursday, November 20—otherwise known as Universal Children's Day.

What You Can Do

As part of the campaign, UNWTO urges individuals to:

1. Raise awareness of the issue with those around you;
2. While in a destination where CET occurs:
• refrain from engaging in any form of exploitation of children
• report suspicious behaviour
• become an informed and responsible traveler
3. Volunteer with local or regional office of the NGO ECPAT - End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking - (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Pacific) or with ECPAT International to become involved in projects and activities that address CET.

Education at 30,000 Feet

Along the same lines, several airlines have begun airing brief in-flight videos with criminal warnings for potential perpetrators of sex tourism, and a broader education for everyone else. These measures are an excellent way to raise awareness in front of a captive audience—and the newly opened eyes might catch otherwise unnoted suspicious behavior.

Check out these (very effective) videos currently airing on the following air carriers:

AIR FRANCE/AOM/Aérolyon/Finnair/Corsair/Swissair:

AirCanada:

German LTU/terre des hommes: