Time for UNWTO to open doors to human rights

Let poor people have a voice in tourism says Tourism Concern and six other campaigning groups

Tourism Concern and six international campaigning groups have renewed calls for the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to enable poor communities negatively affected by tourism to have a voice in UNWTO processes. This is vital if human rights violations in tourism development are to be effectively addressed by the UN agency.

The call was set out in a two new campaign briefings: UNWTO-Civil Society Participation: Why it is time for the UNWTO to open its doors and Putting Tourism to Rights  .

The briefings were presented to the UNWTO at a meeting in Bali on 11-13 June 2011.

Presently, opportunities for organisations representing communities negatively affected by tourism development to participate in UNWTO processes are currently extremely limited, especially when compared to the majority of other UN organisations. As a UN agency, the UNWTO is required to be transparent and accountable to all tourism stakeholders.

Tricia Barnett of Tourism Concern says: “Meaningful civil society engagement, including with those challenging unsustainable tourism and associated human rights violations, is essential for ending exploitation and for promoting a more ethical industry. Participation in the UNWTO should be accessible to all those with a stake in tourism, not just those who can afford membership. This must include the socially marginalised who otherwise struggle to have their voices heard.”

Tourism Concern and its partners are urging the UNWTO to allocate sufficient resources to develop and implement mechanisms for enhanced civil society engagement, based on a clear policy and strategy.

The briefings also call on the UNWTO to provide an accessible means for those whose rights have been violated by tourism development to seek redress. In theory, this is provided for under ‘Article 10’ of the UNWTO’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. However, complaints must be submitted jointly by the plaintiff and alleged offender.

Where the plaintiff is a poor local community and the accused party a powerful international hotel group backed by a national government, the power differentials make the submission of a joint complaint untenable in the majority of cases.

However, the campaigning groups state that voluntary mechanisms such as Article 10 should not detract from the responsibility of governments to protect human rights against corporate abuse committed by transnational companies. Governments must also provide access to redress for victims through robust regulatory frameworks and judicial mechanisms.

Although the UK is not a member of the UNWTO, Tourism Concern is urging the British Government to establish a UK Commission on Business, Human Rights and the Environment. This would ensure UK companies operating overseas do not violate human rights, that they are held to account where violations occur, and that victims of abuse receive access to redress.

“We have been assured that the UNWTO will give due consideration to our proposals and we and our networks will keep up the pressure to ensure that this is the case.” Said Tricia Barnet

http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/Campaigns/UNWTO-CSO%20Participation-Briefing-June11.pdf
Download UNWTO-Civil Society Participation http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/Campaigns/UNWTO-CSO%20Participation-Briefing-June11.pdf
Download Putting Tourism to Rights http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/Campaigns/eed_tourismus_humanrights_shortversion_2011_engl.pdf

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Special Offers HERE