Flamingo Travel Group adopts ECPAT Code of Conduct to protect children from being exploited for the purpose of child sex tourism.

Flamingo Travel Group attended a conference held at the UNICEF building at the United Nations New York April 21st. Flamingo Travel Group has stated thier company position on thier website www.flamingo-travel.com.

(PRWEB) April 24, 2004 --April 21st Flamingo Travel Group was at the United Nations in New York, UNICEF meeting on the implementation of the ECPAT worldwide code of conduct. Flamingo Travel is a Charter Signatory for the ECPAT Code of Conduct, one of 3 tourism companies in North America to adopt the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The Code was developed by ECPAT Sweden in coordination with Scandinavian tour operators and the World Tourism Organization (WTO). According to ECPAT, the Code has been formally adopted by only 49 companies worldwide, three of which are in the United States and proudly, Flamingo is one of the three.

Over 2 million children are enslaved in the child sex trade worldwide. It is estimated that 25% of the child sex tourist around the world come from the United States. This needs to stop! Even one child being victimized is one child too many. Flamingo is committed to doing everything we can to end this atrocity. We will not book your travel, if you are traveling to victimize children. We urge you to get help for your sickness. Child sex tourism is the act of traveling abroad to have sex with a minor child (under age 18). We will provide information in our ticket jackets and on our website on the new laws in place against child sex tourism. You could get up to 30 years in prison. We will account for all we do to end this to ECPAT and UNICEF on an annual basis. We will provide training to all of our agents on the subject of child sex tourism and how to report it.

Some people think that by paying a child to have sex they are helping them because the money will help the child. The truth is most of the children NEVER see the money because it goes to pimps or brothel owners.

Many people believe that children are less likely to be HIV positive which makes them think that sex with a child is safer. The truth is children are more susceptible to HIV and other STD's because they are involved in the prostituion business. If someone sells children for sexual purposes to make thier income, can you really believe thier integrity when they say the child is a virgin or disease free?

If you suspect abuse please contact U.S Customs Service: 703-293-8005, The National Center for Missing and exploited Childrren 1-800-843-5678 or the Homeland Security division to end sex tourism 1-866-347-2423.

"What is done to children, children will do to the world." This was a quote that stuck with me in New York yesterday. Let's save these children and perhaps they will heal/save the world.

I urge other agencies and tour companies to do the same.

Sincerely,

Maureen Kelly Carreņo
Director of Leisure Sales
Flamingo Travel Group
1-800-325-PINK ext. 22
www.flamingo-travel.com