TOURISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE

Transcription

1 TOURISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE

2 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.

3 How will this be integrated with UNWTO Global Code of Ethics in Tourism?

4 UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism ARTICLE 2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment / 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 ICCPR 7 Non-discrimination Prohibition against torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and punishment ICCPR 24 + ICESCR 10 Rights of child ICESCR 12 ICCPR 8 Right to health Prohibition against slavery, servitude, forced and bonded labour

5 UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism ARTICLE 2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment 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 ICCPR + ICESCR 3 ICCPR 26 Non-discrimination Equal rights of men and women Right to equality before the law ICCPR 24 + ICESCR 10 Rights of the child ICCPR 27 Rights of minorities

6 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

7 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

8 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

9 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

10 What will the principles cover (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.

11 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

12 Consulatations: Tourism Concern Pro-poor Tourism Human Rights Watch Amnesty International Business for Social Responsibility International Alert

13 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.

14 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

15 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).

16 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)

17 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 /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 /L.6 and Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

18 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.

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