Hotel Joins ECPAT-USA in Fight Against Child Trafficking

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) --06/09/2011 -- The Millennium Hotel-St. Louis will soon become the latest hotel property to take a strong stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by signing the tourism Code of Conduct (The Code), ECPAT-USA announced today. The Code specifically focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in the travel and tourism industries.

The Millennium Hotel St. Louis will hold a press conference on July 12 at which it will sign the Code of Conduct, making a public commitment to develop policies and procedures to protect children from sexual exploitation on its premises. The press conference will take place at 11:45AM local time at the hotel.

The Code has been signed by almost 1,000 travel industry members worldwide, though few companies in the United States have done so. The St. Louis branch of the Millennium Hotel chain is the fifth U.S. company to agree to work with ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for every child's right to grow up free from sexual exploitation. This year, Delta Air Lines became the first U.S. air carrier to sign the Code and Hilton Worldwide also signed the Code.

As a subscriber to The Code, The Millennium Hotel-St. Louis will implement policies that condemn child trafficking and exploitation and provide training to help their employees identify and report illicit activities. The hotel will also look for ways to raise awareness about ECPAT and the Code among customers and other stakeholders.

The purpose of The Code is to prevent and mitigate child sex trafficking, as well as encourage a responsible, child-wise tourism industry, according to Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA.

"It is fantastic that another U.S. hotel property has decided to act responsibly. We are thrilled to have the partnership of The Millennium Hotel St. Louis. We hope the Millennium properties across the country are willing to take the same steps in the future. Children in every city should have the same protections," said Smolenski.

The other U.S. organizations that have signed The Code include Carlson Companies, which owns the Radisson Hotels, and Global Exchange's Reality Tours.

About ECPAT-USA
ECPAT-USA, the U.S. arm of ECPAT International, is focused on protecting children trafficked into the U.S., American children trafficked for sexual exploitation, and foreign children exploited by American tourists traveling abroad. ECPAT International is a global network of organizations working together for the elimination of child trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography. The network is comprised of 81 groups in 74 countries around the world. All ECPAT groups are independent grassroots organizations, working to combat child exploitation at the local level. For more information, visit http://www.ecpatusa.org or connect on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/causes/1413.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

State Now Has One of Country’s Strongest Human Trafficking Laws

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) --06/07/2011 -- ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to protect sexually exploited children, announced that Governor Peter Shumlin has signed Vermont's new human trafficking law, noting: "The new law now ranks among the strongest anti-trafficking laws in the nation, allowing Vermont to continue our legacy of fighting slavery within our borders and around the world."

Notable provisions in the new law include:

- Human trafficking crimes in Vermont will now carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $500,000 fine

- Children exploited in prostitution have immunity from prosecution for prostitution offenses, making Vermont one of only five states to legally acknowledge that children are not responsible for their own abuse

- Allowance for victims of human trafficking to pursue damages from their traffickers in civil court

"Ensuring that children are viewed as victims of sexual exploitation, not criminals, when they are used in prostitution is a paradigm shift that is taking root all over the country. We are delighted that Vermont has joined the growing list of states that are changing their legislation to conform with this ideal," said Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA

Representatives Maxine Grad, Mark Larson, Kesha Ram, and William Lippert and Senator Richard Sears made the passage of this law a priority this session.

Smolenski noted that children exploited through prostitution experience incredible violence at the hands of traffickers and buyers of sex. Unfortunately, due to a lack of services and training, and unjust perceptions of such children, they are most frequently arrested and treated as juvenile offenders instead of crime victims. Vermont joins New York, Connecticut, Washington, and Illinois in passing legislation that works to protect commercially sexually exploited children from criminal sanction for their own abuse. ECPAT-USA continues to work with partners in Minnesota and other states to pass similar legislation to better identify, assist and protect victims.

ECPAT-USA was proud to support and work with the organizations who led the fight to pass this legislation. These include: Vermont Coalition of Runaway & Homeless Youth Programs, Coalition of Vermonters Against Slavery Today, Give Way to Freedom, Spectrum Family & Youth Services, and Polaris Project.

About ECPAT-USA
ECPAT-USA (http://www.ecpatusa.org) is the U.S. branch of an international organization working in over 70 countries to eliminate child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. ECPAT-USA is also working to engage the travel industry through The Code of Conduct (http://www.thecode.org) to help fight the exploitation of children in sex tourism.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Leading Global Hospitality Chain to Help Combat Global Child Trafficking

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/26/2011 -- Hilton Worldwide Inc., the leading global hospitality company, has become the latest hotel company to take a strong stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by signing the tourism Code of Conduct (The Code), ECPAT-USA announced today. The Code specifically focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in the travel and tourism industries.

While The Code has been signed by almost 1,000 travel industry members worldwide, Hilton Worldwide is only the fourth U.S. company to agree to work with ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to protect sexually exploited children. Just last month, Delta Air Lines became the first U.S. air carrier and the third U.S. organization to sign.

As a subscriber to The Code, Hilton Worldwide will implement policies that condemn child trafficking and exploitation and provide training to help their employees identify and report illicit activities. Hilton Worldwide will also look for ways to raise awareness about ECPAT and the Code among customers and other stakeholders.

The purpose of The Code is to prevent and mitigate child sex trafficking, as well as encourage a responsible, child-wise tourism industry, according to Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA.

"Hilton Worldwide believes strongly in ECPAT-USA's important mission to protect children from sexual exploitation and to bring greater attention to the issues surrounding child trafficking," said Chris Nassetta, president & CEO, Hilton Worldwide. "As part of our commitment, we will work with government, non-governmental organizations and others in our industry to address this issue."

"Some companies fear that associating with the tragic reality of child sex tourism will hurt their corporate brands or public images. The actions of Hilton Worldwide and Delta demonstrate that in fact taking a strong stand against child exploitation and trafficking is good for business," said Smolenski.

Other U.S. organizations that have signed The Code include Carlson Companies, which owns the Radisson Hotels, and Global Exchange's Reality Tours. Smolenski noted that Hilton Worldwide's signing of The Code is an important milestone in ECPAT's ongoing efforts to reach U.S. travel companies and create awareness of their need to provide leadership in tackling child trafficking.

About ECPAT-USA
ECPAT-USA, the U.S. arm of ECPAT International, is focused on protecting children trafficked into the U.S., American children trafficked for sexual exploitation, and foreign children exploited by American tourists traveling abroad. ECPAT International is a global network of organizations working together for the elimination of child trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography.

The network is comprised of 81 groups in 74 countries around the world. All ECPAT groups are independent grassroots organizations, working to combat child exploitation at the local level. For more information, visit http://www.ecpatusa.org or connect on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/causes/1413.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

First Major Airline to Combat Global Child Trafficking in the Travel Sector

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/18/2011 -- ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to protect sexually exploited children, announced that Delta Air Lines has become the first major airline in the world to enter the fight against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by signing the tourism Code of Conduct (The Code). The Code specifically focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in the travel and tourism industries. While The Code has been signed by almost 1,000 travel industry members worldwide, Delta is the first U.S. air carrier and the third U.S. organization to sign.

As a subscriber to The Code, Delta will implement policies that condemn child trafficking and provide training to help their employees identify and report trafficking activities. Delta will also raise awareness among customers by including information about ECPAT and the Code in its Sky magazine and delta.com website.

According to Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA, the purpose of The Code is to prevent and mitigate child trafficking, as well as encourage a socially responsible, child-wise tourism industry.

"All travel companies could unwittingly be facilitating the sex trafficking of children. If they do nothing to raise awareness or to prevent child trafficking, they risk becoming an indirect and unintentional conduit for the abuse that takes places," said Smolenski. "We applaud Delta Air Lines for taking the first step toward helping fight the sex trafficking of children that has become a global epidemic."

Other U.S. organizations that have signed The Code include Carlson Companies, which owns the popular Radisson Hotels, and Global Exchange's Reality Tours. Smolenski noted that Delta's signing of The Code is an important milestone in ECPAT's ongoing efforts to reach U.S. travel companies and create awareness of their need to provide leadership in tackling child trafficking incidents that can happen within their premises.

"On behalf of Delta and its leadership team, Delta is proud to be the first U.S. airline to sign The Code. We look forward to playing a role in ECPAT's important mission to raise awareness about and combat child trafficking. Delta prides itself on doing what is right, and this is the morally right thing to do," said Richard Anderson, CEO, Delta Air Lines.

Smolenski added: "ECPAT-USA is grateful for the work of Sister Valerie Heinonen of Mercy Investment Services for helping create this new partnership with Delta Air Lines."

About ECPAT-USA
ECPAT-USA, the U.S. arm of ECPAT International, is focused on protecting children trafficked into the U.S., American children trafficked for sexual exploitation, and foreign children exploited by American tourists traveling abroad. ECPAT International is a global network of organizations working together for the elimination of child trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography.

The network is comprised of 81 groups in 74 countries around the world. All ECPAT groups are independent grassroots organizations, working to combat child exploitation at the local level. For more information, visit http://www.ecpatusa.org.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm