A trip is not only about discovering a distant and different place and introducing us to other cultures, it is also about trying to understand them and, above all, to preserve them.
Contact with the population is one of the attractions of the island of Madagascar, but it must always be a fair, loyal and, above all, responsible contact. Madagascar has one of the youngest and most hospitable populations in Africa. Help us to keep them as natural as they are. Take a look at these tips, they will help you a lot to integrate in the island, they will help us a lot to preserve Madagascar.
ECPAT France and the Ministry of Tourism of Madagascar have published a “Responsible Traveler’s Guide to Madagascar, 12 Tips to protect our minors”.
Here is a brief summary in Spanish and the link to the complete Guide (in French): Guide du Voyageur Responsable
→ TIP ♥ 1.
Avoid distributing materials directly to children. If you wish to make a donation of school supplies or clothing, do it directly to a local association. If you are interested there is a list available on the ECPAT France website.
→ TIP ♥ 2
Do not give money to children begging on the street, as they are part of organized mafias or are forced by their own relatives. If you wish to help these children contact local Associations.
→ TIP ♥ 3
Do not photograph or film children without seeking permission from their parents or guardians.
→ TIP ♥ 4
Inform yourself about the protection measures towards minors before visiting the island or getting involved as a volunteer in a project.
→ TIP ♥ 5
Take the necessary precautions before intervening with a child in distress. Never act alone and inform the local authorities.
→ TIP ♥ 6
Never accept a child to accompany you alone and do not take him away from his environment.
→ TIP ♥ 7
Do not remunerate children for any kind of service and/or assistance and always choose companies or structures that have measures against the exploitation of children.
→ TIP ♥ 8
Do not flaunt material goods in front of children, you are exposing yourself to theft.
→ TIP ♥ 9
Do not resort to prostitution of minors, it is a crime punishable by Malagasy law and can be prosecuted also in the EU.
→ TIP ♥ 10
Do not hesitate to contact www.reportchildsextourism.org, www.arozaza.mg or the 147 hotline if you observe suspicious behavior by a traveler.
→ TIP ♥ 11
Choose tour companies for your trip that have adopted child protection policies and visit places that have child protection ethics.
→ TIP ♥ 12
Take some time to learn a few phrases in Malagasy, they will make the exchange much easier.
What policies has IndigoBe adopted in this regard?
Indigo Be supports responsible tourism since its inception in 2006, following a series of guidelines in the organization of their trips that respect equitable principles and long-term duration. We believe that your visit should contribute to the sustainable development of the local population and for this reason we carry out the following actions:
COMMITMENT to compliance with the BSCI Code of Conduct (The BSCI Code of Conduct aims to achieve compliance with certain social and environmental standards, in accordance with the ILO Conventions, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the UN Global Compact and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and other relevant internationally recognized agreements.
The 10 key elements of this code are:
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
- Prohibition of discrimination
- Child labor is prohibited
- Fair remuneration
- Working hours/decent working day
- Prohibition of forced labor and disciplinary measures
- Health and safety in the workplace
- The environment is respected.
- Special protection for young workers
- Ethical business behavior
COMMITMENT to achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/takeaction/
IndigoBe informs our travelers of the “Rules of Conduct of the Responsible BE Traveler” to be adopted during their visit to Madagascar through a printed document that we deliver upon arrival to the island along with other informative materials.
Sylvia Pallarès
©IndigoBeMadagascarSARL
