FW: Campaign re Hilton hotels

[Guest guest]

Dear All

This would certainly seem to be something to think about when any of us are

booking hotel accommodation for conferences or holidays.

I was surprised at how few hotel groups sign up to the ECPAT International

code http://www.thecode.org/ . See also

http://www.ecpat.net/ei/Programmes_CST.asp

ECPAT seem to have an wide range of interesting publications on the topic of

working with children in vulnerable situations across the world.

http://ecpat.net/EI/EI_publications.asp

Read below about the campaign to get the Hilton group to sign up to the code

Subject: Fw: Hilton sex slaves

Not the usual communication, important info though so hence why i'm passing

it on

From: Alice Jay - Avaaz.org <avaaz@...>

Subject: Hilton sex slaves

" drumanic@... " <drumanic@...>

Date: Thursday, 21 October, 2010, 12:41

Dear Friends,

<http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/?cl=794411557 & v=7388> Massive

hotel chain, Hilton, could be complicit in sex slavery and the rape trade.

Hotels are key sites for this horrific trade but Hilton refuses to sign an

international code of conduct on sex trafficking. Let's build a massive

petition and deliver it to the Hilton CEO through ads in his home town

papers:

Sign the petition!

<http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/?cl=794411557 & v=7388>

<http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/?cl=794411557 & v=7388>

It's shocking. Hilton, one of the most renowned hotel chains in the

world, could be complicit in child sexual exploitation, in their own

facilities!

Hotels are one of the primary places where slave children are sold

for sex by brutal pimps. And Hilton has not even signed up to a basic

international Code of Conduct that forces hotels to train their staff to

detect, report and assist girls and women forced into the sex industry.

Hilton's action on this would be huge -- if they signed up to The Code, it

would create a network of Hilton employees in 77 countries and 32,000 hotels

working against the rape trade of women and children.

There is no time to lose in stopping this terrifying trade. Sign the

petition for Hilton to implement The Code of Conduct for the Protection of

Children From Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. When we hit 250,000

signatures, we'll take out ads in major newspapers in McLean, Virginia - the

city where Hilton CEO Nassetta lives and works:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/?vl

<http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/?cl=794411557 & v=7388>

The ECPAT Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual

Exploitation in Travel and Tourism gets hotels to train their staff to

recognize victims of the rape trade and underage prostitution, educate their

guests about the dangers of sex tourism, liaise with local law enforcement

and advocate for victim rights. It works by creating a first line of defense

against sex trafficking around the world. To date, The Code affects 30

million tourists a year - vastly increasing the chances of arresting those

trafficking girls and helping those trapped in the trade.

After brothels were found in Hilton hotels in Ireland and China,

thousands sent letters to the hotel chain in protest, and Hilton

acknowledged its need to address the problem of child prostitution. But to

date no concrete steps have been taken. By shaming Hilton CEO Nasetta in his

own home town with a slew of newspaper ads and calling on him to implement

The Code, we could force him and his employees to protect children in the

most effective way, worldwide.

At some point in our lives many of us will visit a hotel - which of

us would feel comfortable staying in a room where, close by, underage girls

are being sold to men and forced to have sex? Sexual tourism that exploits

women and girls benefits from hotel staff who look the other way or get a

pay off to turn a blind eye. We need hotels to have a zero tolerance policy

towards child sexual exploitation in their facilities.

To date, more than 900 companies across the world, including the

Radisson and Country Inn Suites hotel, have signed The Code. Hilton is under

pressure to join them. Click below to urge Hilton to join in the fight

against sex trafficking:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/?vl

<http://www.avaaz.org/en/hilton_sign_now/?cl=794411557 & v=7388>

Every day, hundreds of girls around the world are forced into sexual

slavery. Our global call for accountability and training in the world's

largest hotel chain can make a huge dent in this vile trade.

With hope,

Alice, Emma, Graziela, Ricken and the rest of the Avaaz team

Sources:

Tell Hilton Hotels to Prevent Child Prostitution in Their Hotels:

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/tell_hilton_to_prevent_child_prostituti

on_in_their_hotels

Hilton hotel closed by Chinese police over prostitution charges:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china-business/7844335/Hilton-hotel-close

d-by-Chinese-police-over-prostitution-charges.html/

<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china-business/7844335/Hilton-hotel-clos

ed-by-Chinese-police-over-prostitution-charges.html>

Women arrested in Hilton 'brothel':

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/women-arrested-in-hilton-brothel-1435317.

html

War on child prostitution targets hotels:

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/War%20on%20child%20prostitution%20targ

ets%20hotels%20%20/-/1070/965158/-/ndfubvz/-/index.html

Hotelier acts on child prostitution:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2780957.stm

New ways to prevent child prostitution:

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/new-ways-to-prevent-524077.html

<http://www.avaaz.org/act/open/794411557.gif>

Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and

receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team

ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way -- donate here

<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/donate_to_avaaz/?cl=794411557 & v=7388> .

________________________________

Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works

to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global

decision-making. ( " Avaaz " means " voice " or " song " in many languages.) Avaaz

members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13

countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of

Avaaz's biggest campaigns here <http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights?footer> ,

or follow us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/Avaaz> or Twitter

<http://twitter.com/Avaaz> .

This message was sent to drumanic@.... To change your

email address, language, or other information, click here

<https://secure.avaaz.org/act/index.php?r=profile & user=04ad4142ddd5080f495b2

f617039025d & lang=en> . Want to leave this list? Click here to unsubscribe

<https://secure.avaaz.org/act/?r=unsub & cl=794411557 & email=drumanic@btopenwor

ld.com & b=1036 & v=7388 & lang=en> .

To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write

to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact <http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact?footer>

or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 9.0.862 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3214 - Release Date: 10/23/10

07:34:00