Cinnamon chain of hotels in Sri Lanka recently collaborated with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to raise awareness among staff attached to the Cinnamon hotel chain on combating human trafficking in the tourism sector. 47 key staff attached to Cinnamon hotel chain were trained during this initial programme.  The training programme covered a wide array of topics including the risk of human trafficking, the indicators of trafficking specific to the tourism industry, legal framework and means of reporting cases to the responsible authorities.

According to the United States Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report 2022, women and children, particularly in the tourism sector, can be trafficked for a wide array of exploitative purposes, including sexual exploitation/forced prostitution. Due to the clandestine nature of human trafficking, combatting this crime requires a coordinated response from a wide array of stakeholders. As such, the tourism sector plays a crucial if not indispensable role. Having more stakeholders trained in preventing TIP allows for the protection and safety of victims and improves the quality of the destination, allowing it to continue being a safe and reliable option for tourists/visitors. It is imperative that officials and personnel in the tourism industry are trained to take up a proactive role in the prevention of the scourge by sensitizing its customers, monitoring and reporting violations.

IOM envisages that the practical knowledge acquired during these awareness programmes will enable the identification and reporting of cases, facilitate the dismantling of criminal networks, save lives and improve migration for the benefit of the society as a whole.

The counter trafficking interventions of the IOM in the tourism sector are implemented by the IOM under a project entitled ‘Strengthening Government and CSO Capacity to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Create Greater Impact’ (IMPACT), with funding support from the United States Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP). 

The project also aims to strengthen national and local/community level capacities and scale up community-driven responses to effectively combat and respond to trafficking in persons and contribute to the effective implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP 2021-2025) to monitor and combat human trafficking. 

***

For more information, please contact:

Minoli P. Don, Head – Protection Unit (PXU) at IOM Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Tel:(0094 777 409 409), Email: mdon@iom.int