A search has begun today for ideas to make an impact on the issue of child sex trafficking and tourism, through a unique competition. The Body Shop, Child Wise and Intrepid Travel have teamed up and are calling for a slogan to promote ethical, child safe tourism and urge Australians to report on suspicious behavior.
The most impactful slogan will be developed into a billboard advertisement in Phnom Penh Cambodia, to create awareness of this shocking crime and empower travelers to take action.
The winning entrant will experience a nine day Intrepid 
Travel small group adventure to Cambodia, to visit Child Wise’s grassroots programs and view their billboard.
This initiative is running through the ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People’ campaign, now in its third year.
Together with illegal drugs and arms, human trafficking is one of the largest criminal industries in the world. Australians have been identified as travelling sex offenders in at least 25 countries and as the largest group of sex tourists prosecuted in Thailand (31% of the total).
“It remains an appalling fact that Australians contribute to the demand for sex with children. Current attempts to stop child sex tourism are not working, and this competition aims to stop travelling child sex offenders by creating greater awareness about this heinous crime and empowering Australians travelling overseas to protect children,” Bernadette McMenamin, CEO and Founder of Child Wise said.
The competition will run in The Body Shop and Intrepid Travel stores around the country as well as on the Child Wise website until 31 August.
Additionally, both Intrepid Travel and The Body Shop will be handing out free Activist Kits nationally.
The Activist Kits are pocket sized resources, containing practical steps towards taking action against Child Sex Trafficking and tips on being a child safe traveler, including Child Sex Tourist report cards.
"We are appalled about the statistics around child sex tourism and strongly believe that the travel industry needs to play a role in tackling this issue. There is no place for sex tourism in the world and we hope this campaign sheds some light on a practice that is just plain wrong," Geoff Manchester, Manager and Co-founder, Intrepid Travel said.
The Bo
dy Shop will continue to sell the Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Creams, with 100% of proceeds going to Child Wise.
What has been achieved so far?
Through lobbying and fundraising the ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children & Young People’ campaign has had enormous success to date. 225,328 signatures were collected from Australians who believe the Government should do more to stop the demand and supply of children into the commercial sex industry. The petition, one of Australia’s largest ever – was tabled in Parliament on 23 March 2011, and has succeeded in opening a dialogue with the relevant Government Ministers.
Nearly half a million dollars has been donated to Child Wise from the proceeds of Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream sales.
“The campaign has already funded 10 best practice projects to stop child sex trafficking in Cambodia, by educating and empowering children, teachers, parents, community leaders and politicians. We are proud to have made a difference by supporting thousands of children in Cambodia who are vulnerable,” Mark Kindness, Chief Executive, The Body Shop Australia said.
About the Limited Edition Soft hands Kind Heart Hand Cream:
Nurture your skin with Soft Hands, Kind Heart Hand Cream, which in turn helps provide protection and care to children and young people trafficked or at risk. All profit from the sale of the hand cream will be donated directly to Child Wise. Soft Hands, Kind Heart Hand Cream RRP $10.95 will be available for purchase from 25 July until sold out. All proceeds are donated directly to Child Wise’s vital programs in Cambodia.
About the Cambodia competition:
The ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People’ campaign and competition will run from 25 July to 31 August 2011 and ideas can be submitted at The Body Shop Stores and Intrepid Travel My Adventure Stores nationally or online at www.childwise.net/competition
For further information please contact:
Adam Valvasori
Values Manager
(03) 9565 0500
(03) 9565 0598 (Direct)
Meg Koffel
PR Manager Intrepid Travel
(03) 9473 2626
Bernadette McMenamin
CEO and Founder Child Wise
(03) 9645 8911
www.childwise.net
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