PRA, a leader in the Business Events industry, announces its alignment with ECPAT-USA, the leading anti-trafficking policy organization in the United States seeking to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children through awareness and advocacy, policy and legislation. In addition, PRA has committed to 20BY20, a year-long campaign with a goal of training 20,000 business events professionals by the end of 2020 to help combat and end global human trafficking.
Established in 1991, ECPAT-USA partners with travel industry leaders to help companies implement programs and policies that address human trafficking and child exploitation. Through its advocacy work, ECPAT created The Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code), a set of business principles that travel and tour companies can implement to help protect the exploitation and trafficking of children. The Code provides awareness, tools, and support to ensure the travel and hospitality companies can endorse and support ECPAT-USA’s message.
“As a first step, we have conducted an internal training that addressed the signs/behavior to look for that relate to human trafficking and have put a plan in place to report suspicious activity that we may see. As a global business events firm, we operate programs in every corner of the world where we have the potential to directly impact this cause and take important steps to help end human trafficking. We look forward to utilizing our reach to support this great cause.”
For PRA, committing to ECPAT-USA and fighting human trafficking is the first step in a larger Corporate Social Responsibility plan for 2020 and beyond. The plan is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and aligns with many of the calls to action we encounter in business and the world today. PRA has identified several SDGs as part of its year-one plan. ECPAT-USA aligns with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), while other upcoming programs will align with additional SDGs.
“ECPAT-USA is thrilled to partner with PRA to come together around the key issues of prevention, protection and prosecution to build a future where this crime cannot exist,” shared Michelle Guelbart, Director of Private Sector Engagement, ECPAT-USA. “Through partnerships with leading hospitality organizations like PRA, we can amplify our message and make a meaningful difference in helping end human trafficking and child exploitation.”
