The Code is very pleased to announce Punta Cana branch of Sunscape Bávaro Resorts as our latest member.
With the help of Local Code Representative MAIS (Movimiento Para el Autodesarrollo Internacional de la Solidaridad), the staff of Sunscape Bávaro received extensive training on child protection as per The Code’s six criteria. Sunscape Bávaro is the seventh company to join The Code in the Dominican Republic, we warmly welcome such a proactive commitment from the tourism industry in such a popular tourist destination.
Last year, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the U.N Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, said that the Dominican Republic was a hotspot for travelling sex offenders looking to sexually exploit children, the reason for this, she elaborated was due to the perception of it being accessible and tolerated.
de Boer-Buquicchio emphasised the need for the Ministry of Tourism to get involved in ending the perception of tolerance towards child sexual exploitation. Although the government has stepped up efforts to prosecute tourists found sexually exploiting children, convictions remain low.
This underlines the need for civil society to engage the private sector and encourage proactivity and prioritise the children’s rights by incorporating child protection policies into their corporate strategies and staff training.
