American Airlines Joins the Fight

On January 11, 2018, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, American Airlines officially partnered with ECPAT-USA, a non profit policy group determined to eliminate human trafficking within industries, by signing the Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct.

Through this signing, American Airlines agrees to these 6 tenents:

1. Establish a policy and procedures against sexual exploitation of children.
2. Train employees in children's rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation and how to report suspected cases.
   
3. Include a clause in contracts throughout the value chain stating a common repudiation and zero tolerance policy of sexual exploitation of children.
4. Provide information to travelers on children's rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation of children and how to report suspected cases.
5. Support, collaborate and engage stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children.
6. Report annually on their implementation of Code related activities.

This is powerful! 

During travel is when the trafficked and trafficker are most visible and vulnerable.  If acknowledged, they can be easily separated.  They are in public and in unfamiliar territory, sometimes taking the traffickers off guard.   Airports are a huge hub for trafficking.   Last year 2,000 suspected human traffickers were arrested and 400 victims were identified.  With greater awareness through training and awareness these identifications will increase, showing promise in helping to curb the atrocity of human trafficking and the transport of people against their will.  

I'm so thankful to hear of airlines participating in these policies.  Delta has been involved in the fight against human trafficking since 2011, not only by raising awareness for their employees and passengers, but by providing donated essentials to human trafficking survivors and flyer miles to get them back home.  

Learn more about ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking) here.