Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking

In 2021, EIC became signatories of The Code – a multi-stakeholder initiative which provides awareness, tools and support to the travel and tourism industry to protect children against sexual exploitation.

With Human Trafficking still a prominent and growing issue, we connected with Sandy Biback, Founder of Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking, to understand the signs of possible trafficking and what key questions we should be asking our suppliers and venues.

By Sandy Biback, CMP Emeritus, CMM, Founder, Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking

The accepted definition of Human Trafficking (AKA Human Slavery) (unodc.org) is:

“Every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals, or harbours a person, or who exercises control or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation.”

This happens EVERYWHERE – in many countries, cities and hotels across the world, at all economic levels. Trafficking knows no boundaries.

It includes sex trafficking, slave labour, production of products that are used in our industry produced with child labour (think about the coffee beans picked that end up in that expensive urn of coffee and the exploitive process sometimes involved in making that a reality).

Here are some useful resources and actionable steps you can take as a meeting professional, as well as a general human being:

1. What are the signs of possible trafficking?  https://www.canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca/signs-of-human-trafficking/

2. Planners, please ask questions on your RFPs:

• What is the venue doing to stem human trafficking? 
• What if the venue ‘sees it happening’?
• What’s the chain of command, or do they turn their head and ignore it? 
• What about outsourced services such as housekeeping? 
• Is it a reputable firm?

  Salespeople should have the answers to these questions.

3. Explore US Human Trafficking research.  https://www.ecpatusa.org/unpackinghumantrafficking

4. If you are in a country outside the US and want to report something you see, visit www.globalmodernslavery.org for contacts in all countries.

US:  1-888-373-7888

Canada:  1-833-900-1010

Mexico:  01800-5533-000

5. Download TraffickCam app to your phone and take photos in all hotels you visit. https://traffickcam.com/about

6. Check out supply chains and human slavery and ask questions to your venues/etc. https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab

7. If you have kids, talk to their schools about what they are doing to stem the tide — we must start with education, and please, stay aware of what your kids are doing on social media.

Matthew Friedman is a member of the MPAHT Advisory Council. Take a free assessment to see where you/your company stands here.  In his book, “Be the Hero Be the Change” he says that every small action counts and it most definitely does.

Remember, if you see something, say something – you could be wrong and that’s OK, but you could be right and save a life.

Thank you.

If you would like further information, please contact me by email sandy.biback@outlook.com.