8:15 a.m.	Registration and Coffee
8:30-8:45	Opening Remarks Barbara Frey, Director, Human Rights Program
8:45-9:30	Progress and Challenges in Global Efforts to Combat Child Sex Trafficking. (related resources) What are the forces that shape the current patterns of commercial sexual exploitation of children relating to tourism? What are the numbers and trends regarding trafficked children and who are most affected by these practices? What are the factors that lead to children being trafficked and what international and local institutions need to be engaged in prevention? How does the international human rights community view the issue of child sex trafficking? Are there adequate international norms and standards? How can the private and public sectors work together to enforce existing norms? Professor Mohammed Mattar, Adjunct Professor of Law and Executive Director of the Protection Project and at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies Introduction, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Dorsey and Whitney Chair in Law, University of Minnesota
9:30-9:45	Excerpt from “Children for Sale,” NBC News documentary (related resources)
9:45-10:00	Recognizing the Person. (related resources) Who are the victims of child sex trafficking? What are their stories? What are the effects of the exploitation they experience? How can we make “the best interests of the child” a primary consideration as required by the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Kyla Kaun, Prostitutes' Empowerment, Education and Resource Society, Vancouver, British Columbia
10:00-10:30	Morning Keynote Presentation: Protecting Children Against Exploitation. Child sex trafficking is one of the most pervasive and damaging violations against children. As the leading global voice for children, UNICEF’s mandate includes efforts to protect them from all forms of exploitation, especially trafficking for sexual purposes. UNICEF works with governments, NGOs, the private sector and a variety of other partners to carry out this mission, as well as helping empower children themselves to avoid exploitation. The speaker will address UNICEF’s work to protect children, with a special focus on travel and tourism, as well as the impacts of child-protection issues on larger development goals. Ms. Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF Introduction, Mai Chong, Girls International Forum (GIF), Roseville Area High School
10:30-10:50	Break
10:50-12:05	Global Responses, Panel 1, Codes of Conduct. (related resources) One of the most visible responses of the tourism industry to the issue of child sex trafficking has been the creation of the “Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.” (see www.thecode.org). At least 241 companies in twenty countries have signed on to the Code. Suppliers of tourism services adopting the Code agree to establish an ethical policy, train personnel, negotiate with sub-contractors, provide information to travelers and to key local stakeholders, and report annually. How does the Code operate in practice? What impacts do we expect from the Code’s implementation and how can those impacts be measured? What have we learned from the use of voluntary codes of conduct in other business sectors that would be valuable to consider in mapping out the strategy for combatting sexual exploitation of children? Chair, Professor Chantal Thomas, Visiting Professor, University of Minnesota Law School Camelia Tepelus, Secretariat Coordinator, Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism Carol Smolenski, Executive Director, ECPAT USA Melanne Verveer, Chair, Board of Directors, Vital Voices Global Partnership
12:05-12:10	Public Service Announcements for Air Passengers (related resources)
12:10-12:30	Global Responses, Youth Career Initiative: Empowerment of Girls. (related resources) One preventive response to sexual and other exploitation of children is to educate girls and train them for alternative career paths. This presentation will focus on one such program. How replicable is this model and what do we know about its long-term effectiveness? What sectors need to be engaged to make such a program work? How does the program reach the most vulnerable groups? Lyndall De Marco, Director, International Tourism Partnership
12:30-1:30	Lunch for reserved guests at the Dolly Fiterman Riverview Gallery and the William G. Shepherd Room in the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum Additional meal options are available from Coffman Union vendors
1:30-2:00	Afternoon Keynote Presentation: The Role of Government in Combating Child Sex Trafficking, Protection, Prosecution and Prevention. (related resources) The U.S. Government has taken a strong public stance against human trafficking including efforts to stop sexual exploitation of children at home and abroad, calling it “a shameful assault on the dignity of children and a form of violent child abuse and violence.” What steps have the U.S. and other governments taken to fight sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism and what have been the results of those actions? How is international cooperation working in the areas of law enforcement, education and victim assistance? What leverage do other sectors have to push for stronger governmental enforcement of laws to prevent and punish child trafficking? Ambassador John R. Miller, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking In Persons of the U.S. State Department Introduction, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman and CEO, Carlson Companies
2:00-2:45	Global Responses, Panel 2, Regional Models. (related resources) How does child sex trafficking take place in different regions of the world and how are solutions being tailored to address the regional specificities of the problem? What can we learn from national or regional experiences regarding sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism that will be helpful in international efforts against sexual exploitation of children? How should Western human rights activists engage in other regions on these issues? What cultural sensitivities are critical to an understanding of the supply and demand questions inherent in issues of sexual exploitation? Chair, Professor Cynthia Messer, Tourism Center, University of Minnesota Sidney Alves Costa, Chief of Brazilian Ministry of Tourism Christine Beddoe, Director, ECPAT UK Sanjay Kundu, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, Deputy Inspector General, Border Security Force, India
2:45-3:00	Break
3:00-4:00	Global Responses, Panel 3, Where Business, Government, NGOs & Academia Intersect. (related resources) The goal of this conference is to identify joint and separate strategies for various sectors to consider in their efforts to combat sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. What successful cross-sectoral partnerships have taken shape already and what can we learn from them? Where do relationships between these sectors need to be reinforced? What constructive criticism arises between sectors in design or practice? Chair, Professor Kathryn Sikkink, Arleen C. Carlson Professor of Political Science and the McKnight Distinguished University Professor at the University of Minnesota. Diana Nelson, Board Chair of World Childhood Foundation USA, Carlson Companies Board Member Charlotte Brandin, Executive Director, World Childhood Foundation USA Richard LaMagna, former Director of Law Enforcement Programs and Outreach, Microsoft Mohamed Mattar, Executive Director of the Protection Project, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies Amy O’Neill Richard, Senior Advisor to the Director in the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
4:00-4:15	Global Responses, Panel 4, Student Actions. (related resources) Student groups are forming across North American campuses to combat sex trafficking of women and girls. What are the goals and objectives of these groups? How can student groups specifically affect the phenomenon of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism? What are their challenges and opportunities in organizing on this issue? Chair, Deborah Cundy, VP External Affairs, Carlson Companies Berglind Halldorsdottir, Students Against Human Trafficking, University of Minnesota Babina Tuladhar, College of Saint Catherine Vanna Chan, Students Against Human Trafficking, University of Minnesota
4:15-4:45	Closing Keynote Presentation: Protecting Childhood: An Integrative Response. Two years ago, the Carlson Companies became the first North American company in the tourist industry to sign the Code of Conduct and commit itself to take action against sexual exploitation of children in its operations around the globe. What is the environment in the industry regarding the issue of child sex trafficking? What are the challenges and opportunities for North American companies in addressing this international issue? Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman and CEO, Carlson Companies Introduction by Robert Bruininks, President, University of Minnesota

Saturday, April 22, 2006*

Radisson Metrodome, 615 Washington Avenue S.E., Minneapolis

Expert meetings will take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The goal of the expert meetings is to identify effective strategies for joint and separate activities of the four key sectors involved in this meeting. Convenors will guide the discussion toward concrete short-term and long-term goals for the participants and the constituencies they represent.

*Students and members of the public will be allowed to observe the discussions as space permits.