TOURISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

INITIATIVE

GOAL

• To create a set of guidelines that will

assist the tourism industry address

human rights

• To use the UNWTO Global Code of

Ethics in Tourism as an overarching

guide.

How will this be integrated

with UNWTO Global Code

of Ethics in Tourism?

ARTICLE 2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment /

UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

3. The exploitation of human beings in any form, particularly sexual, especially when

applied to children, conflicts with the fundamental aims of tourism and is the

negation of tourism; as such, in accordance with international law, it should be

energetically combatted with the cooperation of all the States concerned and

penalised without concession by the national legislation of both the countries

visited and the countries of the perpetrators of these acts, even when they are

carried out abroad;

ICCPR + ICESCR 2 Non-discrimination

ICCPR 7 Prohibition against torture or cruel, inhumane

or degrading treatment and punishment

ICCPR 24 + ICESCR 10 Rights of child

ICESCR 12 Right to health

ICCPR 8 Prohibition against slavery, servitude, forced and

bonded labour

ARTICLE 2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment

UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

2. Tourism activities should respect the equality of men and women; they should

promote human rights and, more particularly, the individual rights of the most

vulnerable groups, notably children, the elderly, the handicapped, ethnic

minorities and indigenous peoples;

ICCPR + ICESCR 1 Right to self-determination and protection of

indigenous people

ICCPR + ICESCR 2 Non-discrimination

ICCPR + ICESCR 3 Equal rights of men and women

ICCPR 26 Right to equality before the law

ICCPR 24 + ICESCR 10 Rights of the child

ICCPR 27 Rights of minorities

Incentives for the Tourism and

Human Rights Initiative

• Tourism is a major global industry - Target

• Stakeholder pressure - employees, consumers,

shareholders, NGOs, media, risk of lawsuits

• International community - appointment of UN Special

Representative on Business and Human rights (2005)

• IBLF study of hotel policies on human rights revealed

significant areas of risk exposure

• Hotel companies were found to be lagging behind

companies from other major sectors

Why should the industry

be involved?

Business Benefits

1. Safeguard reputation and brand image

2. Gain competitive advantage

3. Improve recruitment, retention and staff loyalty

4. Foster greater productivity

5. Secure and maintain license to operate

6. Reduce cost burdens - security, litigation etc

7. Ensure active stakeholder engagement

8. Meet investor expectations

Advantages of a collective

approach

• Gives the industry a voice

• Demonstrates commitment

• Put pressure on irresponsible companies

• Increase impact and consistency

• Share resources, experiences, findings

Deliverables The following activities will be delivered during the

course of the project.

• Draft Ethical Principles for the industry with a special applications for hotels, airlines, cruiselines, tour operators, etc.

• Series of consultations and stakeholder roundtables

• Policy paper, which includes policy recommendations for the industry

• Series of international events to launch the principles in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe

(1)Workplace issues

Non-discrimination, forced/bonded labor,

child labor, health & safety, freedom of

association/collective bargaining, fair

remuneration, working conditions, right to

privacy….

2) Community Stewardship issues

Land rights and rights of indigenous people

and vulnerable groups, child sex

exploitation, access to natural resources,

supporting local small businesses….

What will the principles cover

Benchmarking Process

• To increase familiarity with wider public context

• To assist fully informed decision-making

• 7 Sector initiatives examined

• Ethical Trading Initiative (food and clothing)

• Fair Labour Association (garment and footwear)

• Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (Oil, mining and gas)

• Kimberley Process (Diamond industry)

• Equator Principles (Financial services)

• Global E-Sustainability Index

• Electronic Industry Code of Conduct

Consulatations:

• Tourism Concern

• Pro-poor Tourism

• Human Rights Watch

• Amnesty International

• Business for Social Responsibility

• International Alert

Steps: 1. Consult with Industry on concept.

2. IBLF Human Rights Team to do

benchmarking.

3. Tourism Partnership advisory role.

4. Consultations with organisations

concerned with Human Rights.

5. Further meeting with Partner members.

American Express, Carlson, CityInn,

Four Seasons, Hilton, Intercontinental,

Jumeirah, Marriott, Rezidor, SLH,

Starwood, Superclubs, Taj.

6. Chatham House meeting for wider

discussions with industry and Human

Rights organisations.

Draft Human Rights Guidelines

Workplace Issues

Participants will strive to apply the

following standards equally to all staff

whether, permanent, part-time,

seasonal or migrant workers, and use

our influence with hotel owners and

other business partners to do likewise

1. Equal Opportunity & Non-discrimination

Recognising the UN conventions on Racial discrimination(1965) amd Sexual Discrimination (1979), as well as ILO Convention 100 (Equal Remuneration) and Convention 111 (Discrimination).

2. Forced/bonded/compulsory labour

Recognising ILO Convention 29 (Forced Labour) and convention 105 (Abolition of Forced Labour).

3. Freedom of Association and the right to collection bargaining

Recognising ILO Convention 87 (freedom of Association) and Convention 98 (Right to Organise and collective bargaining).

4. Child Labour

Recognising the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), ILO Convention 138 (minimum age)and Convention 182 (worst Forms of Child Labour).

5. Fair Wages and benefits

Recognising ILO Convention 100 (Equal Remuneration) and Convention 131 (Minimum Wage Fixing).

6. Working hours

Recognising ILO Conventions governing hours of work and the right to family life protected under the International Covenants on economic, social and Cultural Rights (1966) and on Civil and Political Rights (1966).

7. Non-Harassment Recognising the UN Convention against Torture and Other

Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (1984).

8. Working conditions Recognising ILO Convention 155 (occupational Health and

Safety) and right to family life protected under the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) and on Civil and Political Rights (1966)

Community Stewardship

1. Child Sexual Exploitation

Recognising the UN Convention on the rights of the child (1989),

ILO Convention 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour), the UN Commission on Sustainable Development International work Programme on Sustainable tourism development (E/CN.17.1999/L.6) and the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

2. Communities, indigenous peoples and scarce resources

Recognising the UN declaration on the rights on Indigenous Peoples (2006), ILO Convention 169 (Indigenous and Tribal Peoples) , the World Bank’s performance standards on indigenous peoples, the World Bank’s performance standards on land acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement UN Commission on Sustainable Development international work programme on sustainable tourism development (E/CN.17.1999/L.6 and Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

3. Policy Dialogue

4. Security Arrangements

Recognising the UN Basic Principles on the use of force and

firearms by law enforcement officials, the UN code of conduct for law enforcement officlas, and guided by the voluntary principles on Security and Human Rights for the Extractive Sector (2000).

5. Bribery

Participants will not pay, solicit or accept bribes, this includes

not giving anything of value directly or indirectly to any government official, business partner or individual for puroposes of influencing their decisions. Facilitating payments are also considered bribes and should not be made.

TOURISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

INITIATIVE