Abta reaffirms drive to stamp out child abuse and exploitation

The association has relaunched its online “Every child, everywhere” tool, designed to help those working in the industry identify potential risks to children visiting, and living, in some of the world’s most popular destinations.

It has worked with children’s rights group ECPAT UK - Every Child Protected Against Trafficking - to develop its training and the tool.

Every child, everywhere covers a wide range of child safeguarding issues relevant to the industry such as encouraging staff to report any suspected cases of child labour and urging companies to look closely at their supply chains.

Refreshed e-learning resources include courses covering risks of child abuse and exploitation in the sector, as well as developing and implementing safeguarding policies and procedures.

Abta says its aim is to ensure all travel industry staff, from domestic agents to overseas reps, are equipped to deal with any child safeguarding issues and recognise the role they can play in looking out for and reporting potentially abusive behaviour.

Nikki White, Abta director of destinations and sustainability, said: “Abta and our members are taking a long term, active role in child safeguarding. This means putting procedures in place to deal with this very sensitive issue and to support the protection of both children travelling to destinations and those living there.

“This training is relevant for all staff, as the welfare of children can cut across many parts of the businesses. Anyone who has completed this training before will find it helpful to do the updated course, which takes account of new developments in this area.”

Abta’s new training is available through its online Knowledge Zone and is free to members. Non-members can buy the training tool for £29 per user, and there are discounts available when buying more than 10.

Bharti Patel, ECPAT UK chief executive, added: “ECPAT has a long history of working with the travel industry on child safeguarding issues and we are happy to be working with ABTA once again to refresh this essential training tool.

“Children everywhere have a right to be kept safe from harm and this updated tool will give travel professionals an understanding of the specific risks children face in travel and tourism, the importance of robust child safeguarding policies, and procedures to identify and protect vulnerable children.”