World Travel & Tourism Council launches taskforce on human trafficking

Monaco

Monaco-based Silversea Cruises has announced its support for a global taskforce against human trafficking.

Announced at Seville’s World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the taskforce is designed to help prevent and combat an illicit activity that affects 30 million victims worldwide, and relies on travel networks to operate.

The taskforce comprises WTTC Members and sector associations to become the first global industry-wide initiative to assert zero tolerance and share best practice.

As an ‘industry’, human trafficking is worth $150bn annually, and contributes heavily to modern slavery, in which 40 million people worldwide are entrapped. One-quarter of trafficking victims worldwide are children (or 5.5 million).

Monaco

Meanwhile, 19% of victims are trafficked for sexual purposes, which makes up 66% of the illicit income generated.

Human trafficking is present virtually everywhere; yet not all criminalise it in all its forms.

The WTTC taskforce has thus been established for the purposes of:

  1. PREVENTION: to increase industry and consumer awareness of human trafficking. It is proven the more we know the more can be prevented.
  2. PROTECTION: to train employees and travellers on how to identify and report suspected cases.
  3. ACTION: to encourage governments to enact legislation which recognises human trafficking as a crime throughout the entire chain and develop resources and support needed such as national hotlines.
  4. SUPPORT: to provide assistance, employability training and employment opportunities to survivors.

The founding members of the taskforce are Airbnb, Amex GBT, The Bicester Village Shopping Collection, Ctrip.com International, CWT, Emirates, Expedia Group, Hilton, JTB Corp, Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority, Marriott International, Silversea, Thomas Cook and TUI.

On the formation of the taskforce Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC commented, “Human trafficking is a devastating, widespread and critical issue that unfortunately relies on Travel & Tourism networks to operate.

As a sector, we must do everything in our power to help eradicate the problem so that people may move freely and safely across the globe, but never coerced.

“I am proud to today launch this vital taskforce comprised of the world’s most powerful travel leaders from across hotels, retail, airlines, cruise, technology, finance and destination management, and are wholly committed to preventing trafficking, protecting victims, supporting survivors and engaging with governments so that this pandemic ends once and for all.”

Assises of digital education takes place

Digital seating DENJS 2019 - © Communication Department / Manuel Vitali

As part of the Prince’s Government’s digital transition strategy, the Department of the Interior and the Interministerial Delegation in charge of Digital Transition have drawn up an “e-education” roadmap that carries a vision, that of an optimized education. by the digital and responsible in the use of tools, while maintaining what makes the DNA of the Monegasque educational system.

More than 200 primary and secondary school teachers from the Principality were invited to participate in the Assises du Numérique éducatif held at the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monaco.

In the presence of Mr Patrice Cellario, Government Counselor – Minister of the Interior, Mr Frédéric Genta, Interministerial Delegate for Digital Transition, and Ms Isabelle Bonnal, Director of National Education, Youth and Sports, Mr. Jean-Marie Panazol, Director General of the Canopé Network, Inspector General of National Education, agreed to share his experience and expertise, as a great witness.

Digital seating DENJS 2019 - © Communication Department / Manuel Vitali
Digital seating DENJS 2019 – © Communication Department / Manuel Vitali

In preparation for this major event, the management teams, teachers and education advisers of the educational institutions concerned were all invited by the National Education, Youth and Sports Department to express their needs. and their desires for projects in the digital age to concretely live e-education in the classroom. 

The synthesis of these contributions has been put into perspective with recent research and new practices in the field of pedagogy.

Participants then participated in 12 workshops to develop digital educational projects. The themes of these workshops took into account the needs and wishes they had expressed: the inverted classroom, educational robotics, computer programming, smart teaching, escape game …

The conclusions of this meeting will be handed over to the Prince’s Government, which will study the most relevant projects. 

430 students at the Princess Charlene Rally

See the photo - © - Directorate of Communication - Manu Vitali

All students in grades 3 (College Charles III College FANB and Section of General and Vocational Adapted from LTHM) have participated in the Rally Princess Charlene.

The event was organised by the Directorate of National Education, Youth and Sports with the support of the Princess Charlene Foundation, the Peace and Sport Organisation, the Parents’ Association of Monaco and the Monegasque Anti-Doping Committee.

See the photo - © - Directorate of Communication - Manu Vitali
See the photo – © – Directorate of Communication – Manu Vitali

Spread in 84 teams of four to five students, the young athletes have completed a five-kilometre course, starting from the gymnasium of the Annonciade.

Three events were waiting for them on the Larvotto site, combining sporting, ability and general culture: ergometer relay, test of the Aquatic and Diving Rescue Center, QCM test.

The students then attended a conference hosted by two high-level Monegasque athletes, Kevin Crovetto (gymnast) and Marc Raquil (4 x 400m World Champion and Peace Champion), then they participated in a drawing competition.

The awards ceremony took place in the gymnasium of the Annonciade, the arrival point of the Rally, in the presence of Isabelle Bonnal, Director of National Education, Youth and Sports, Marie-Cécile Moreno, Director- Deputy, Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene Foundation and Henri Fissore, Director of Peace and Sport.

First meeting of the National Committee for Monitoring Marine Protected Areas

National Committee Monitoring Marine Protected Areas - Top, from left to right: Christophe Cauvin, Technical Advisor of the Department of the Interior, HE Bernard Fautrier Vice President and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I Foundation, Prince of Monaco. Second row, from left to right: Cyril Gomez, General Director of the Equipment, Environment and Urbanism Department, Isabelle Assenza, Secretary General of the Finance and Economy Department, Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Director of Maritime Affairs, Raphael Simonet Head of Division at Olivier Dufourneaud Director of the Oceanographic Institute. In the foreground: Jacqueline Gautier-Debernardi, Director of AMPN (Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature) and Professor Denis Allemand, Scientific Director of the Monaco Scientific Center. © Directorate of Communication / Manuel Vitali

The first meeting of the National Committee for the Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas was held on Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Ministry of State. This body is composed of representatives of the State, the Prince Albert II Foundation, the Oceanographic Institute, the Monaco Scientific Center and the Environmental and Maritime Affairs Departments.

The governance of the Marine Protected Areas of the Principality is entrusted to this Monitoring Committee, which defines the main directions of the management of these Areas, to a Coordination Group for MPAs, which aims to facilitate the implementation of these guidelines. and to a manager, the Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature, which deploys, on a daily basis, action programs aimed at preserving the environment of MPAs.

National Committee Monitoring Marine Protected Areas - Top, from left to right: Christophe Cauvin, Technical Advisor of the Department of the Interior, HE Bernard Fautrier Vice President and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I Foundation, Prince of Monaco. Second row, from left to right: Cyril Gomez, General Director of the Equipment, Environment and Urbanism Department, Isabelle Assenza, Secretary General of the Finance and Economy Department, Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Director of Maritime Affairs, Raphael Simonet Head of Division at Olivier Dufourneaud Director of the Oceanographic Institute. In the foreground: Jacqueline Gautier-Debernardi, Director of AMPN (Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature) and Professor Denis Allemand, Scientific Director of the Monaco Scientific Center. © Directorate of Communication / Manuel Vitali
National Committee Monitoring Marine Protected Areas – Top, from left to right: Christophe Cauvin, Technical Advisor of the Department of the Interior, HE Bernard Fautrier Vice President and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I Foundation, Prince of Monaco. Second row, from left to right: Cyril Gomez, General Director of the Equipment, Environment and Urbanism Department, Isabelle Assenza, Secretary General of the Finance and Economy Department, Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Director of Maritime Affairs, Raphael Simonet Head of Division at Olivier Dufourneaud Director of the Oceanographic Institute. In the foreground: Jacqueline Gautier-Debernardi, Director of AMPN (Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature) and Professor Denis Allemand, Scientific Director of the Monaco Scientific Center. © Directorate of Communication / Manuel Vitali

The Principality has two Marine Protected Areas:

• The marine area of ​​Larvotto, mainly for the conservation and enhancement of a Posidonia meadow. It covers an area between the shoreline and approximately 600 m offshore, its area is 33.6 ha, of which 23 ha are classified as Ramsar, named after the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

• The marine area of ​​the Spélugues’ fall, which contains coralligenous formations and numerous habitats and emblematic species (red coral, sponge, sea urchin diadems, large pearls).

During this meeting, several topics were discussed, such as communication and awareness-raising actions on these spaces that are important to preserve. It is in this spirit that a first five-year plan for protection management and scientific research in these marine areas of the Principality will be defined and implemented by the AMPN.

Monaco Embassy in Italy mobilises for International Day of Sport

White card Rome - Mrs. Martine Garcia-Mascarenhas and Mr. Bruno Molea with the AS Roma team 8-12 years old, winner of the 1st Trophy of the International Sports Day for Peace and Development © Andrea Martella Embassy of Monaco in Italy

To celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which took place on Saturday, April 6, the Embassy of Monaco in Italy appealed this year to the Italian Association Culture and Sport (AICS), sports and social promotion organisation recognised by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

White card Rome - Mrs. Martine Garcia-Mascarenhas and Mr. Bruno Molea with the AS Roma team 8-12 years old, winner of the 1st Trophy of the International Sports Day for Peace and Development © Andrea Martella Embassy of Monaco in Italy
White card Rome – Mrs. Martine Garcia-Mascarenhas and Mr. Bruno Molea with the AS Roma team 8-12 years old, winner of the 1st Trophy of the International Sports Day for Peace and Development © Andrea Martella Embassy of Monaco in Italy

A junior football tournament was organised on Tuesday, 2 April, by the football section of AICS in the presence of its President, Mr. Bruno Molea, also President of the International Labor and Amateur Sports Confederation (CSIT).

The AS Roma Club won the trophy created to symbolise this Day. Mrs. Martine Garcia-Mascarenhas, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Monaco in Italy, presented the trophy on behalf of the Embassy. She recalled the importance of this day and the commitment of HSH the Sovereign Prince in this area.

All participants then enthusiastically branded the white card #WhiteCard, in support of the operation promoted by the Peace and Sport Association, to celebrate this Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

World Travel & Tourism Council launches taskforce on human trafficking

Monaco-based Silversea Cruises has announced its support for a global taskforce against human trafficking.

Announced at Seville’s World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the taskforce is designed to help prevent and combat an illicit activity that affects 30 million victims worldwide, and relies on travel networks to operate.

The taskforce comprises WTTC Members and sector associations to become the first global industry-wide initiative to assert zero tolerance and share best practice.

As an ‘industry’, human trafficking is worth $150bn annually, and contributes heavily to modern slavery, in which 40 million people worldwide are entrapped. One-quarter of trafficking victims worldwide are children (or 5.5 million).

Monaco

Meanwhile, 19% of victims are trafficked for sexual purposes, which makes up 66% of the illicit income generated.

Human trafficking is present virtually everywhere; yet not all criminalise it in all its forms.

The WTTC taskforce has thus been established for the purposes of:

  1. PREVENTION: to increase industry and consumer awareness of human trafficking. It is proven the more we know the more can be prevented.
  2. PROTECTION: to train employees and travellers on how to identify and report suspected cases.
  3. ACTION: to encourage governments to enact legislation which recognises human trafficking as a crime throughout the entire chain and develop resources and support needed such as national hotlines.
  4. SUPPORT: to provide assistance, employability training and employment opportunities to survivors.

The founding members of the taskforce are Airbnb, Amex GBT, The Bicester Village Shopping Collection, Ctrip.com International, CWT, Emirates, Expedia Group, Hilton, JTB Corp, Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority, Marriott International, Silversea, Thomas Cook and TUI.

On the formation of the taskforce Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC commented, “Human trafficking is a devastating, widespread and critical issue that unfortunately relies on Travel & Tourism networks to operate.

As a sector, we must do everything in our power to help eradicate the problem so that people may move freely and safely across the globe, but never coerced.

“I am proud to today launch this vital taskforce comprised of the world’s most powerful travel leaders from across hotels, retail, airlines, cruise, technology, finance and destination management, and are wholly committed to preventing trafficking, protecting victims, supporting survivors and engaging with governments so that this pandemic ends once and for all.”