Safeguarding children is a cornerstone of social sustainability, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 16.2) and the Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics (UNWTO, 2019). Addressing child abuse – whether through the exploitation of labour, trafficking, or sexual abuse – is essential, and stakeholders in tourism must take an active role in preventing the mistreatment of minors.

Organized by the Eurac Research Center for Advanced Studies, the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, and the Gregorian Pontifical University’s Institute of Anthropology (IADC), in collaboration with ECPAT, this international forum brings together experts from the hospitality industry, NGOs, and academia to tackle the critical issue of child protection in tourism. The forum serves as a platform to share best practices, raise awareness, and promote actionable prevention strategies. It aims to foster collaboration, enhance cross-border cooperation, and encourage long-term commitment to protecting children’s rights while advancing sustainable and ethical tourism practices.