PANJIM: The Tourism Department on Friday released the Child Friendly Tourism Code (CFTC), to protect children at tourist destinations.
Drafted by the Children’s Rights in Goa (CRG), the Director of Tourism Suneel Anchipaka handed over a copy of the CFTC to the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) president Rajtilak Naik at a function held at the GTDC Board Room, Paryatan Bhavan, Patto-Panjim.
The CRG worked for over 15 years (2005-2020) on the Code, which was adopted by the Department of Tourism in the year 2020.
The CRG has sought cooperation of the mediapersons to expand the implementation of the CFTC, and to foster widespread awareness of the Child Friendly Tourism Code on a broader scale.
The Child Friendly Tourism Code will ensure that the tourism activities be undertaken, keeping in mind the rights of the child as per the United Nations Convention of the rights of the child thereby upholding the dignity, ensuring the safety and protection of children and freedom from exploitation of all children who may be impacted by tourism in any way.
The Code will include training of staff in the tourism industry. It will also include measures to prevent all forms of sexual exploitation to safeguard the safety of children.
Child Rights Facilitator Namita M Naik, Prof Prashanti Talpankar, Savio Fernandes, Utkarsha Revadkar and others.
