Combating the abuse of children and young people engaged in International educational, cultural and language trips abroad UNWTO Task Force, ITB, Berlin 7 March 2008 Presented by: Chris Gould BA (Psych) Chief Executive Child-Safe International www.child-safe.org.uk
History Home Office, European Commission, British Council - funding 1998 Research 1998 2000 First 12 months 2,000 cases Less than 1% reported to any Law Enforcement Agency Work continued 2004 charity founded Charity website developed www.child-safe.org.uk Travel Safe series of books produced Other supporting products developed Get Savvy launched October 2007 Charity endorsements
RECENT PRESS EXAMPLES In Australia, a 16 year-old exchange student discovered the pinhole camera behind a mirror earlier this month. The 38 year-old host father, admitted installing a hidden video camera in a bathroom to spy on a teenage exchange student. This case, will now go on to a trial of the facts. The Advertiser, Perth, Australia In Michigan, the 16 year-old exchange student found a video camera under blankets in her bedroom. Later, she found a smaller video camera hidden in a doll house in her room. The lens looked out an upper window of the doll house. This 46 year-old Plainwell man apologized after he admitted he placed the camera there. The Grand Rapids, US Riverside resident gets five months in the case involving a Danish exchange student. Press Enterprise Newspaper Veterinarian is charged with sexually abusing boy. Special to Tribune Former exchange student is awarded $649,000. Teacher charged with sex abuse of exchange student. ABC News, Rockville, MD
Child-Safe Travel-Safe
TRAVEL SAFE www.child-safe.org.uk
Charity endorsements ECPAT International Home Office (UK) Department for Children, Schools and Families (UK) Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK) Association o of Chief Police Officers (England & Wales) Numerous voluntary sector organisations including Rotary International (Youth Exchange Programmes) Numerous commercial sector language schools including EF Numerous commercial cultural sector tour operators including Explorica Numerous EU funded programmes including EIL
What Child-Safe does? Lobbies and supports Governments Works with statutory, voluntary and commercial organisations in collaboration and partnership Campaigns on the safeguarding aspects of children and young people within tourism Consultancy, training, workshops, seminars and presentations to organisations Produce protective products (country/organisation specific) - from research with victims, survivors and perpetrators effective within the tourism sector
Reason for the update! Raise awareness of the work of the charity Add our endorsement to UNWTO (Task Force) Look for other Governments who may wish to introduce this work within their countries Look for further collaboration with other organisations working in this field Contact details: Chris Gould BA (Psych) Chief Executive Child-Safe International Ltd Avon and Somerset Constabulary PO Box 37, Valley Road, Portishead Bristol BS20 8QJ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1275 816131 ( ) www.child-safe.org.uk chris.gould@avonandsomerset.police.uk