Accor WATCH Training Module

WATCH

Training module

2020



Protecting children from sexual exploitation

What is a child or teenager?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
defines a child as "any human being under the age of
eighteen (18) years".

What is sexual exploitation? This reduces
children to
This is when an adult has sex with a child in exchange for
payment or consideration: sexual
commodities and
money
gifted objects and
for food violates their
in promises of a better future (e.g. obtaining a visa) basic human

The sexual exploitation of children can take many forms: rights..

prostitution
pornography
traffic

Protecting children from sexual exploitation

The sexual exploitation of children is a very serious violation of :

 The Declaration of the Rights of the Child - 1959

"The child shall be protected from all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation" (principle 9).

 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - 1989

"States parties undertake to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation or sexual
abuse" (art. 34).

 The Stockholm Declaration - 1996

"The commercial sexual exploitation of children is a fundamental violation of their rights. It is
a form of violence against children and a form of modern slavery. »

 The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism - 1999

"Exploitation of human beings in all its forms, including sexual exploitation, especially when
applied to children, undermines the fundamental objectives of tourism and constitutes the
negation of tourism. "(art. 2.3)

... and the Accor "Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Charter".

Protecting children from sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation of children is a crime punishable under national
and extraterritorial laws:

National laws : conviction in the countries where the crime is committed.

Ministry of Interior (MOI) Child Protection Centre has been established in UAE to
undertake the role of developing, implementing and customizing the initiatives,

processes aiming at providing safety, security and protection for all children
living at UAE or even those coming as visitors.

Extraterritorial legislation : conviction in the abuser's home country, even if the crime is
committed in another country. 32 countries currently apply extraterritorial legislation.

Child sex tourism

Sex tourism occurs when an adult traveller has sex with a child while travelling for business or

pleasure. Today, the number of abused children is estimated at between 2 and 3 million*. It is a global

scourge amplified by trafficking networks. As a result, many countries are now affected beyond Asia, as

well as in Latin America, Africa and Europe.

This scourge is spreading wherever tourism is developing. *Source : UNICEF

WHO ARE THE ABUSERS (or sexual abusers)?

Of all ages, nationalities, religions and social backgrounds.
They are simple tourists or important businessmen who are often themselves married
and related.
Although they are mostly men, women are also involved in the sexual exploitation of
children.

Not all abusers are strangers to the host country. Children are often abused by their own countrymen on
holiday or while travelling.

They are not necessarily pedophiles (who are sexually attracted to children) or organized criminals
(who organize their trips around their perversion).

They are often travellers with no particular sexual attraction to children who are tempted and act out
their sexuality without having premeditated it. They are called circumstantial abusers.

There is no "standard profile" of the abuser.

Child sex tourism

Why is it growing?

Among the victims Among the abusers

 Poverty and lack of work  Sense of power
 Lack of education  Absence of moral and
 Lack of a protective family
social constraints
environment or even  Desire for "exoticism" and
domestic violence
 Drugs new experiences
 Strong appeal for the  Sense of impunity fostered
consumer society
by: anonymity,
A child never chooses to be a prostitute. If this geographical distance from
happens, it is because he or she is forced to do home, ignorance of
so, often by a pimp or by extremely precarious repressive laws
and difficult living conditions.  Fear of HIV/AIDS with the
(false) idea that having
relationships with children
reduces the risks.



Why act?

The sexual exploitation of children seriously threatens their physical,
psychological and social development and sometimes even their survival.

Health problems

• HIV / AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases
• Abortions
• Drugs, alcoholism
• Violence by abusers and / or pimps

Psychological consequences

• Loss of values ​and moral compass
• Permanent fear
• Insomnia, depression or even suicide

Education and social development impacted

• Absenteeism
• Breakdown of the family unit
• Solitude
• Prostitution as the only possible future

Why act?

Given the scale of this scourge and its consequences, the involvement
of the tourism industry in the fight is essential.

Serious consequences for a country's growth:

Risks to families and communities

This may involve your neighbour's cousin or your best friend's nephew from
school, etc., or even children you are closer to in case of abduction or trafficking.
It compromises the younger generations and therefore the future of your
community.
…

Risks to the tourism industry (economic boom)

Negative image conveyed by the term "sexual destination" when most tourists
prefer destinations that are not affected by this scourge.
Desertion of tourists travelling as a family because they do not want to expose
their children to shocking situations.
…

Why act?

Committing oneself to the fight against child sex tourism means
accepting one's responsibilities as a tourism operator. This is part of
responsible tourism.

The Accor Group recognizes its moral responsibility and is committed to
the fight against the sexual exploitation of children in its "Charter of
Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility".

Responsible tourism also means respecting, understanding and
protecting local communities while contributing to their economic
development.

Responsible tourism benefits both the tourism industry, the
communities in a country and the tourists who come to visit it.

The majority of tourists prefer destinations that do not experience this
scourge.
Abusers go where they think they can act with impunity.

Why act?

Because we are one of the key players who can make a concrete
contribution to curbing the scourge, our involvement is crucial.

We have the ability to prevent or stop child sexual abuse...

Sometimes abusers use our facilities to commit their misdeeds:
Hotels, holiday villages, hotel rooms, motels
Bars and discos
Excursions, taxis...

Our employees, like all people working in the tourism industry, are
therefore more likely to be confronted with abusers.
Reception staff, security, restaurant, room service, floors, technical staff,
drivers...
Daily contact with our customers allows us to play a major role in raising
travellers' awareness.

Why act?

Because our commitment, by ripple effect, can contribute to the
virtuous circle of wrestling:

Actors engaged in the A subject that is less taboo,
fight more and more more strongly denounced
numerous (NGOs, media, and repressed throughout the

governments, tourism industry, world.
police and justice services...)

More vigilant communities
and tourists

Less sexually exploited
children

Accor's commitment

2001 Accor becomes the first hotel group to make a commitment against sex tourism in
partnership with ECPAT

2002 The fight against child sex tourism is becoming a priority in Accor's sustainable
development program.

2006-2010 50,000 staff trained to prevent the sexual exploitation of children

2012 Accor launches its new sustainable development program PLANET 21
2013 Accor reinforces its commitment by extending it to the protection of children against abuse
2014 Accor adopts the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children in 35
countries and trains more than 30,000 employees there
Reaffirmation of Accor's commitment to combat the sexual exploitation of
children through the launch of the WATCH program.



Accor movie « Please disturb »

Available in 5 languages: English, French, Portuguese/Brazilian, Thai, Polish

How to act?

REPORT ANY PROBLEM SITUATIONS

IF YOU HAVE SUSPICIONS, NEVER STAY ALONE:
REACT.
• If you cannot prove the age of the alleged minor

and you continue to have doubts, or if you are
even refused to show your identity papers, inform
your line manager immediately.
• Your manager will know what to do and, if
necessary, notify the relevant authorities.

Provision of instructions to be followed in the event of a situation "at
risk" to be determined in advance with the local partner NGO.

How to act?

Be alert

As soon as you are asked for information about the "hot" areas of the city or
are asked questions that make you think that your interlocutor is looking
for a sexual relationship with a minor.

• Answer that the law and Accor policy prohibit you from answering these
types of questions.

• Do not hesitate to alert him/her to the criminal consequences of child
sexual exploitation.

• Inform your manager that this client has approached you with suspicious
information and keep an eye on him/her afterwards.

As soon as you see (or are alerted to) a customer accompanied by someone
who appears to be a minor.

At the reception, in the lift, by the swimming pool, in the restaurant, in the
discotheque, in the car park.

The facts and actions that should alert you:
• The relationship between the client and the alleged minor seems
unnatural to you (no or few spontaneous signs of affection, they keep a
certain distance from each other, etc.).
• One and/or the other looks/seems tense or "weird".
• You get the impression that someone is watching the "couple" from a
distance...

Get in touch with this "couple" to put an end to any suspicious situation.

How to act?

Put an end to any suspicious situation

Ask "harmless" questions to assess the situation:
To the adult: How old is the child? How many children do you have?
Where are you from? Etc.
• To the alleged miner: How are you? What's your name? School's

over and you're on vacation? What grade are you in?
Ask for the identity papers of the alleged minor to verify his age.
Explain that hotel regulations require you to refuse entry to minors
who are not accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
• If we do not want to present you with papers, do not hesitate to

explain Accor's commitment and the criminal consequences of
child sexual exploitation. This should help defuse the situation.
• If the client is indeed well accompanied by a minor who is not a
relative, refuse access to the minor to the hotel, restaurant,
swimming pool, etc.. Explain that you can only allow him/her to
do so if he/she is accompanied by his/her parents or legal
guardians.

How to report a case of child abuse

1 Alert your manager immediately :
He knows what to do and who to alert.

2 This type of situation is always tricky to handle
You don't have to act alone. Ask a colleague to help you.

3 Explain to the guest that you follow the hotel's internal
procedures, which are mandatory. The identity of minors
must always be verified before they are allowed access to the room,
whether alone or accompanied.

4 If you have the slightest doubt, you should not let the
child leave alone with the adult. Engage the child and adult
in conversation and ask questions.
Any doubt? Refer to the reflex
factsheet.