OSCE Mission to Montenegro hosts signing of code aiming to protect children from sexual exploitation in tourism

PODGORICA, 14 September 2006 - A code that aims to prevent that children are sexually exploited in the tourism and travel industry will be signed tomorrow at an event hosted by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

The Tourism Ministry, the New York-based non-governmental organization, The Code, and numerous tour operators, agencies, companies and hotels based in Montenegro will sign the document, which details how companies and other stakeholders should act to protect children and prevent human trafficking.

Supporting the introduction of the agreement is part of the OSCE Mission's activities to strengthen public-private co-operation in the prevention of trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors. The project is financially supported by France and GTZ, an international co-operation enterprise of the German Government.

Ambassador Paraschiva Badescu, acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Tourism Minister Predrag Nenezic, National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Bojan Obrenovic and representatives of the OSCE Office of Economic and Environmental Activities, GTZ and "The Code's" Steering Committee will speak at the signing ceremony.

Media representatives are invited to attend the ceremony which starts at 18.00 on 15 September in the Hotel "Queen of Montenegro", Narodnog fronta bb, Becici, Budva.