Child labor is a global problem that violates the fundamental rights of children and adolescents, impeding their integral development.
According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS), child labor is the participation of a child or adolescent in a productive activity that is carried out outside the law, below the minimum age for admission to employment in accordance with the national legal framework, or in conditions that affect his or her physical and mental development.
In 2022, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported that 3.7 million children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 were in child labor, representing 13.1% of the population in that age range.
In addition to this, Mexico ranks second in the world as a destination for child sexual exploitation and first place in child pornography consumption, according to data from the organization PCF (2018). Human trafficking is a crime that violates the human rights and dignity of millions of people, who are exploited through violence, threats, deception or kidnapping for the purposes of begging, sex trade, forced labor, arranged marriages, illegal adoptions, organ harvesting or biomedical experimentation.
According to the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), the main purposes of human trafficking in the tourism sector are the sexual and labor exploitation of women, girls, boys and adolescents. Sexual exploitation in this context occurs when an offender, disguised as a tourist, travels to a destination with the aim of sexually abusing minors. On the other hand, labor exploitation occurs when minors are forced to work in dangerous or unhealthy conditions that affect their integrity and rights.
To combat child sexual and labour exploitation in tourist destinations, collaboration between government, the private sector and society is essential. In particular, it is necessary to promote the reporting and prevention of these crimes, as well as to raise awareness to eradicate the normalization of this problem.
The perpetrators of these crimes take advantage of the infrastructure and services of the tourism sector, such as hotels, transport and entertainment centres. While tourism service providers are not responsible for the actions of their customers, they can play a crucial role in preventing these crimes. In this context, the Mexican Ministry of Tourism has implemented the National Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children and Adolescents in the Travel and Tourism Sector (CCN).
This code, based on the World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, establishes guidelines to prevent child exploitation in the tourism sector.
The CCN is a voluntary self-regulation tool that any tourist establishment can implement. It contains six key guidelines that must be evidenced by companies that decide to adopt it.
To obtain the National Code of Conduct certification, the following steps must be followed:
Committing to the CCN brings benefits to the establishments, because:
The protection of children and adolescents in the tourism sector is a shared responsibility. Implementing effective measures and strengthening the culture of reporting and prevention is essential to eradicate child exploitation and guarantee ethical and safe tourism for all.
Although the official website of the CCN (www.ccn.sectur.gob.mx) is currently under maintenance, it is important to highlight the relevance of this type of program. While the NCA does not represent a comprehensive solution to the problem of child labour and human trafficking in tourism, it is an important step in promoting responsible practices and protecting children and adolescents in this sector.
For more information and guidance on the National Code of Conduct you can go to the Tourist Attention and Protection Center (CAPTA).
References:
Do you already know the Hotel Mexico Plaza Querétaro? Stay in a place with all the amenities, ideal for rest and work, with a privileged location in the capital of Querétaro. Find out about their offer and booking.
Travel back in time and learn about the history of Querétaro. Hop on one of the Stagecoaches and tour some of the most emblematic places in the city, enjoy a ride that will make you feel like you are in another era.
Incredible cabins with pools, perfect for vacationing with the family and enjoying hot days to the fullest.
