NEW YORK—The 2013 Hilton Humanitarian Prize was presented to ECPAT at the annual Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Symposium at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on October 23. The Hilton Symposium gathers policymakers and leaders in the humanitarian field to address the most challenging issues facing the billions of people who make up the world’s most vulnerable populations.
“ECPAT is deeply honored to be selected to receive the prestigious Hilton Humanitarian Prize by its distinguished jury,” said Dorothy Rozga, executive director of ECPAT International. “Over the last 20 years the name ECPAT has become synonymous with action to stop the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The Hilton Humanitarian Prize is welcome recognition of the pioneering role ECPAT has played to bring this issue to the world’s attention. The prize is also an impetus for ECPAT to accelerate action as we seek to build a world where no child is a victim of child prostitution, child pornography or trafficking for sexual purposes.”
Amongst the work of ECPAT affiliates around the world that was recognized at the Symposium:
• The Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct, that has signed up important U.S. companies such as Delta Air Lines, Hilton Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and Carlson Companies.
• Work to devise solutions to tackle transnational challenges such as protecting children from sexual exploitation, leading up to, during, and after major global sporting events, including the Super Bowl,
• Partnership with The Body Shop, collecting more than 7 million signatures as part of the Stop Sex Trafficking of Children campaign, which were presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the largest human rights petition on a single issue ever submitted to the UN.
• Pioneering program to empower youth survivors and at-risk youth to run advocacy campaigns, lobby governments, and raise awareness to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation.
• Partnership with UNICEF and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, a driving force behind three World Congresses to focus global efforts against CSEC.
• Continued monitoring of the 122 countries that signed the Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action, committing their support to stop CSEC.
“ECPAT was one of approximately 200 nominees received this year for the Hilton Prize,” said Judy Miller, vice president of the Hilton Foundation and director of the Hilton Prize. “The Hilton Prize international jurors recognized the pressing need to put a spotlight on this malignancy that is growing throughout the world.”
Go to ECPAT International.
