Considering: That the exploitation of human beings in any form, especially sexual exploitation, and particularly when it affects children, violates the fundamental objectives of tourism and constitutes a denial of its essence as an activity that contributes to the development of our country, the generation of a better quality of life, the dignity of the person, and the protection of natural and cultural resources, making it vitally important to prevent situations that affect its sustainability and, consequently, the human and economic development of the country;

Based on international instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Peru in 1990; the American Convention on Human Rights, ratified by Peru in 1978, which establishes in its Article 19 that “Every child has the right to the protection measures required by their condition as a minor from their family, society, and the State”; the ILO Convention 182 on the Prohibition of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, ratified by Peru in 2001; the 1996 Stockholm Declaration against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children; the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the Yokohama Declaration, both from 2001; and the “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime” – Palermo Protocol, 2000.

In compliance with the legal provisions that support the obligation of the Peruvian State and all its citizens to guarantee the protection and fulfillment of the rights of minors residing in its territory, such as the Political Constitution of Peru, the Children and Adolescents Code, Law No. 28950 Against Human Trafficking and Illicit Migrant Smuggling, Law 28251 modifying the Penal Code on issues related to the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, and other related regulations; as well as Supreme Decree No. 007-2007-MINCETUR; with the full support of our manager and staff, we formally declare that:

1. We reject the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (SECA) in Peru and worldwide, in general and particularly in its form associated with travel and tourism, as it is conduct that violates fundamental human rights and is contrary to the intrinsic objectives of tourism in our country.

2. We denounce and condemn those who take advantage of tourism activities, facilities, and services to promote, facilitate, or tolerate the occurrence of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents; and in view of the above,
   we resolve: to subscribe to this Code of Conduct against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in Tourism, which will be governed by the following articles:

Article 1.– Purpose
This Code is a formal declaration of voluntary adherence aimed at establishing and enforcing standards of conduct for all individuals working at TRAVEL FREE CUSCO, directed at the care and protection of children and adolescents from all forms of sexual exploitation and human trafficking associated with travel and tourism.

Article 2.– Definitions
For all purposes of this Code, we adopt the following definitions:

• Child or Adolescent: In accordance with Article I of the Preliminary Title of the Children and Adolescents Code, a child is considered any human being from conception until twelve years of age, and an adolescent from twelve until eighteen years of age.

• Human Trafficking: Any act that promotes, favors, finances, or facilitates the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, reception, or retention of another person anywhere in the country by means of violence, threat, or other forms of coercion, deprivation of liberty, fraud, deception, abuse of power, or exploitation of vulnerability (poverty, minority, illness), or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits, for the purpose of exploitation, including prostitution, sexual slavery, or other forms of sexual exploitation.

• Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in Tourism: Any act by a person or persons who travel from their place of origin or home country with the purpose of engaging in sexual contact with children or adolescents, either occasionally or permanently.

Article 3.– Obligations
Under this Code, the personnel of the Company commit to taking necessary measures to protect children and adolescents from sexual exploitation, as follows:

• Maintain an ethical policy rejecting the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in the context of travel and tourism.

• Inform and train staff on the company’s policy regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in tourism and travel.

• Display visible symbols alerting clients and providers of the company’s position on the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in tourism and travel.

• Include a clause in contracts with tourism service providers declaring the mutual rejection of the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents:
  “Tourism promotes childhood and adolescence free from sexual exploitation; therefore, we do not accept any act that encourages the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.”

• Submit an annual report detailing the company’s actions in protecting children and adolescents from sexual exploitation. This report should be supported by photographs, training lists, website links, or other elements demonstrating the company’s sustained corporate social responsibility in SECA prevention. The information must be sent to MINCETUR via email at esnna@mincetur.gob.pe, or to Calle Uno Oeste 050, Urb. Córpac, San Isidro, Lima.

MINCETUR may verify compliance with these measures through its sectoral regulations created for this purpose, and monitoring will be carried out by MINCETUR. From the date of signing this Code of Conduct, the company may use the “Protect Me” logo on its promotional materials, merchandise, website, and other communications.