The FIFA World Cup is the epitome of global soccer dreams. Since yesterday’s start, hundreds of thousands of players and their devoted fans have begun to pour into South Africa to represent their respective countries in what is arguably the most popular international sporting event. With this influx of nearly half a million tourists eager to see the new stadiums, exciting matches, and all that South Africa has to offer, it is easy to forget that there are dangers that go along with such large exhibitions. One unintended consequence of such events is an increase in human trafficking, a practice that sadly is prevalent in almost every country across the globe.
According to the United Nations, an estimated 12 million people are victims of human trafficking each year. This can include forced labor, sexual exploitation, child prostitution and sex tourism. The 2010 World Cup — as well as other events of similar scale and magnitude that attract large 
numbers of people to a limited area for a brief period of time — often bring a short-term increase in the demand for prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation. The event may also inadvertently facilitate the entry of trafficked persons as visitors to South Africa before they are then transported to other cities or countries for sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Christian Brother Investment Services (CBIS) is determined to help. As a leader in socially responsible investing for Catholic institutions, we have issued a call to action for hotel chains in South Africa in an effort to combat this disturbing occurrence. In conjunction with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, CBIS has devised ways that shareholders, investors, companies, and individuals can join the fight against human trafficking.
Through impassioned letters, we have urged CEOs and owners of eight major hotel chains in South Africa to take swift and deliberate action to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and other human trafficking crimes. CBIS encourages hotel chains to educate their employees about the issues of human trafficking; train staff in identifying potential victims, help the spread of information among local police, anti-trafficking organizations, and child welfare agencies; and inform guests about the laws and consequences for human trafficking and the sexual abuse of children
The letters also encourage hotel chains to sign The Code, an industry-wide tool for facilitating the protection of children’s rights by the travel and tourism sector (www.thecode.org). Developed by ECPAT International, The Code asks businesses in the tourism industry to pledge to help protect children from the threat of human trafficking by making it part of their corporate initiative. The Code is recognized among tourism industry associations, governments and child’s rights organizations as an important step toward putting an end to human trafficking around the world.
In April, CBIS sent these letters with more than 300 signatories, including members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Since that time we have received responses from Accor,Carlson and NH Hoteles, three major global hotel companies that have adopted The Code.
Accor has introduced a clause in its contracts with suppliers stating a common repudiation of commercial sexual exploitation of children and has also conducted refresher training for 85 employees and 24 business partners in South Africa. The company has also shared its training materials with travel and tourism companies in South Africa.
Carlson Companies, brand owner of Park Inn, Radisson and Country Inns & Suites, was the first major US company to join The Code. They train every new employee on the issue and provide refresher training annually. Carlson is majority shareholder of The Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Rezidor trains employees to identify human trafficking and on how to report an incident. They have provided staff with red cards with important telephone numbers of child protection agencies that can be contacted if an employee suspects a child is at risk.
NH Hoteles, with 394 hotels in Europe, America and Africa, has informed CBIS that it plans to inform the directors of their two South African hotels to inform all employees of the initiative and the protocol to avoid any possible violation of human rights. Starwood, Best Western, Hyatt and Hilton have not yet responded to the letter.
Because human trafficking is present in nearly every country in the world, every single corporation and individual can take part in helping to end it. For travelers headed to the World Cup, we encourage you to do some research about where you are staying and persuade hotel owners and managers to share their policies and practices in regard to human trafficking. CBIS has developed a letter for travelers to deliver at the reception desk of their hotels, which speaks to these issues. The letter is available at the CBIS SRI Action web site (www.cbisonline.com/sriaction). A similar letter for travelers on all occasions is also available.
Christian Brothers Investment Services hopes that through these actions, the tourism industry can become more aware of the human rights issue of human trafficking and the unique position it is in to help end it. We hope to help make the 2010 FIFA World Cup as safe as it is fun, and provide lasting guidelines for future events. Together we can help make the world we live in safer for our children and more aware of the injustices of human trafficking.
