TPA works to eliminate child prostitution

As Kenya plans to celebrate the Children’s Day on November 20, sexual exploitation has been highlighted as a vice ailing the society.

The Universal Children’s Day celebrations was introduced by the United Nations in 1954. The day promotes international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and improving children’s welfare.

To mark the day, the International Safeguarding Children, global network of organisations in more than 90 countries, among them ECPAT International, The Code and the Kenyan based Tourism Professional Association (TPA) works to eliminate all forms of child sexual exploitation.

TPA plans to conduct a training on ethics and child sex tourism code on that particular day.

The training targets all hospitality, tourism including leisure, travel, tour operators and other related areas both industry and academia professionals. It will be held across the country.

In Mombasa County the training will held on November 16, 2018 at Voyager Beach Resort and Spa, In Eldoret County it will be on November 23, 2018 at Boma Inn Hotel while in Nairobi County the training will be held on November 30, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel.

TPA aims to achieve practical solutions for implementation of policies to protect children from sexual exploitation.

“During the Africa Conference on Child Protection in Travel and Tourism held in Durban South Africa on May 7, 2018 while acknowledging strides made in protecting children also noted a number of challenges which continue to hinder the full realization of the Code requirements by sector players,” said  TPA Secretary Sam Ikwaye.

Member countries were challenged to enhance their efforts in implementing best practices to renew their efforts and commitment in curbing the vice. 

In Kenya, the call for protection of children from sexual exploitation is culminated in enactment of laws by the Government as well as adherence to the six tenets of the code for protection of children against sexual exploitation by member associations in travel and tourism. These include the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) and the Kenya Coast Tourist Association (KCTA) formerly Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA).