Children deserve our special protection worldwide. The DERTOUR Group commits itself and its partners, suppliers and service providers to upholding the rights of children in tourism. Based on its policy statement on child protection, the DERTOUR Group has developed a comprehensive internal Policy Statement on Child Safeguarding. It defines strict requirements for tourism products and activities and contains measures and processes that ensure the active implementation of these requirements.
All business partners of the DERTOUR Group are also subject to the DERTOUR Supplier Code of Conduct, which forms the framework for the human rights requirements for all business partners. Together with its guests, the DERTOUR Group can make a positive contribution to children worldwide as part of responsible tourism.
Buying small souvenirs or giving money to children with good intentions? Please don’t! Children are often part of organized “begging gangs”, are commercially exploited and prevented from attending school.
Instead, donate to reputable organizations that promote sustainable support for children, such as the DERTOUR Foundation, whose projects include the promotion of local communities and the education and training of young people.
Special care should be taken when photographing children. Photos should always respect the dignity and culture of the person depicted and should never be taken without consent. This applies all the more to children.
If a person does not wish to be photographed, this should always be respected. If vacation photos showing children are shared online, e.g. on social media, without consent, the children’s personal rights are being violated.
Children are often involved in cultural performances, dances and shows and are therefore directly involved in tourist activities. Here, the boundaries between the promotion of cultural heritage and commercial exploitation are blurred. The DERTOUR Group’s tourism partners are actively sensitized to human rights issues and trained to avoid critical performances involving children.
According to UNICEF, up to 8 million children worldwide live in orphanages. According to estimates by the organization Save the Children, however, 80% of these children are not orphans at all. Human trafficking and the generation of donations have become a veritable industry in some target areas.
Schools are also protected places of learning where classes must not be disturbed by travelers. Visits to schools and orphanages have been completely removed from the travel programs of the DERTOUR Group and its partners. Only training facilities for vocational training in tourism, to which restaurants, accommodation or services are linked, will continue to be visited. The privacy of the trainees is strictly respected.
Overnight stays with host families and project visits offer the opportunity to get to know life in the destination countries in a unique way. They enable the hosts to participate in tourism and thus generate income.
The DERTOUR Group generally supports homestays, but of course also applies its strict child protection policy criteria here. To protect children, the DERTOUR Group does not offer volunteer work (volunteering or voluntourism) as part of project visits.
If a child is in danger, whether due to suspected sexual exploitation, child labor or other situations, it is important to act immediately and show civil courage. There are various channels and contacts available for this:
Even if it is only a suspicion, travelers should not hesitate to approach these contacts, as targeted action can prevent great suffering.
If a child is in danger, whether due to suspected sexual exploitation, child labor or other situations, it is important to act immediately and show civil courage. There are various channels and contacts available for this:
Even if it is only a suspicion, travelers should not hesitate to approach these contacts, as targeted action can prevent great suffering.
If a child is in danger, whether due to suspected sexual exploitation, child labor or other situations, it is important to act immediately and show civil courage. There are various channels and contacts available for this:
Even if it is only a suspicion, travelers should not hesitate to approach these contacts, as targeted action can prevent great suffering.
The DERTOUR Group is a member of numerous industry initiatives, including the “Child Protection” working group of the German Travel Association (DRV). The DERTOUR Group signed the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation: The Code back in 2016 and has been implementing all six criteria of The Code ever since. The Code is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has manifested the need to protect children since 1989, including the right to freedom, the right to education and the right to protection from violence. The Working Group for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation (ECPAT Deutschland e.V.) supports the DERTOUR Group as a competent partner.
Publication of a fundamental Policy Statement on Child Safeguarding and implementation of an internal child protection policy with processes and requirements to uphold children's rights.
Conducting child protection training for employees, destination agencies, partners, providers, hotels, tour guides, project partners and homestay host families.
Destination workshops in cooperation with the industry, the child protection working group of the German Travel Association (DRV) and the working group for the protection of children from sexual exploitation ECPAT Deutschland e.V.
Implementation of a Supplier Code of Conduct in contracts to safeguard children's rights and a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation.
Elimination of tourist school and orphanage visits and replacement with program items that do justice to the protection of children's rights.
Establishment of networks and continuous dialogue with child protection experts and organizations.
Supporting organizations and projects that promote women and families and give young people the opportunity for education and a self-determined life with the DERTOUR Foundation.
Publication of a fundamental Policy Statement on Child Safeguarding and implementation of an internal child protection policy with processes and requirements to uphold children's rights.
Destination workshops in cooperation with the industry, the child protection working group of the German Travel Association (DRV) and the working group for the protection of children from sexual exploitation ECPAT Deutschland e.V.
Conducting child protection training for employees, destination agencies, partners, providers, hotels, tour guides, project partners and homestay host families.
Implementation of a Supplier Code of Conduct in contracts to safeguard children's rights and a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation.
Elimination of tourist school and orphanage visits and replacement with program items that do justice to the protection of children's rights.
Supporting organizations and projects that promote women and families and give young people the opportunity for education and a self-determined life with the DERTOUR Foundation.
Establishment of networks and continuous dialogue with child protection experts and organizations.
