The federal government, through the Ministry of Tourism, has been expanding efforts to protect children and adolescents from vulnerability situations in the tourism sector. The “Turismo que Protege” movement, launched in June this year, encourages professionals, companies, and entities linked to tourism to adopt ethical and responsible practices. Participation is voluntary and aims to create a support network to prevent violations, especially cases of child and adolescent sexual exploitation.
Fight Against Adultification and Exploitation
The launch of the initiative gains momentum amid recent debates about the “adultification” of children on social media — a phenomenon that, according to experts, accelerates the loss of childhood and increases vulnerability to abuse. For the Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino (União), protection requires constant vigilance and collective action.
“It is our duty as a society, and especially as parents, to protect children so that they can just be children. This is a fight that requires constant vigilance and collective action. We need to be attentive and report any and all content or situation that puts children at risk,” said Sabino.
How to Participate in the Movement
The Ministry of Tourism invites public and private institutions, tourist destinations, social organizations, and citizens to sign the Movement’s Commitment Letter. To participate, simply fill out a pre-adhesion form on the Ministry of Tourism’s website. After this step, the Ministry will contact you to formalize the adhesion.
Alignment with the Brazilian Code of Conduct
The initiative is also integrated with the Código Brasileiro de Conduta, a program of the Ministry of Tourism (MTUR) that encourages service providers registered in Cadastur to adopt preventive measures against the sexual exploitation of minors. The official portal also offers distance learning courses, podcasts, and the Manual do Multiplicador, which guides on how to identify and respond to suspicious situations.
According to the executive secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Ana Carla Lopes, the movement complements the Code and expands the reach of good protection practices:
“The Movement is a policy to support the Code. It aims to enhance and strengthen the dissemination of the principles of the Código Brasileiro de Conduta, an essential tool to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in tourism,” she explained.
She also highlighted that the proposal is not restricted to formal sector companies: taxi drivers, artisans, artists, civil society organizations, and public bodies can also join the protection network and act as multipliers of good practices.
Prevention in Everyday Life
A simple recommendation for tourists and travelers is to check if hotels and event venues have adhered to the Code of Conduct. In addition, in cases of suspicion or confirmation of child and adolescent sexual exploitation, the recommendation is to report immediately by calling 100.
Source: www.brasil247.com