Transat Corporate Responsibility Report, 2008 - For Sustainable ...

No to the sexual exploitation of children
Although it acts as a tremendous socio-economic lever, international
tourism has also resulted in the development of sex tourism,
and a related issue of even greater concern: the commercial
sexual exploitation of children. UNICEF estimates that sexual
exploitation shatters the lives of some two million children worldwide,
most of them girls. The problem is most acute in developing
parts of the world, including countries in South and Southeast
Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe.
Transat is strongly opposed to this form of child exploitation and
has begun awareness-raising efforts both internally and externally,
which will be intensified during 2009.
Transat Distribution Canada reaches out
In August 2008, Hands Across the Nations (HATN),
founded by travel agent Donnalea Madeley and her husband
Greg, celebrated the opening of the Mana Village Community
Health Centre in Mali. The centre will provide much needed
medical care for seven surrounding communities. With the
enthusiastic support of the Transat Distribution Canada team,
HATN was able to distribute mosquito nets for beds, facilitate
a tetanus vaccination clinic and empower people in the fight
against malaria.