Ensuring Women’s Safety and Participation in Religious Tourism

Global Policy Advocacy Virtual Session | 3 SEPTEMBER 2024, 9AM TO 10:30AM EST, 3:00PM TO 4:30PM CET
Simultaneous interpretation in English, Arabic and Spanish

Co-organized by UN Women, and UN Tourism

REGISTRATION

Sexual harassment remains a global issue, facing women and girls all over the world in different settings. It also affects women in tourism, from those working in the sector, those participating in tourism, to women in local communities where tourism takes place. However, violence against women in tourism remains a gap area in research and programming. Eliminating sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women in tourism is necessary for women to benefit from the opportunities to travel, for women to benefit economically from their participation in the sector, and for women to be able to move safely through their own communities.

Every year, tens of millions of people take part in religious tourism, including pilgrimages. Religious tourism represents approximately 26% of total tourism. Such religious gatherings and pilgrimages are customary of different religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Judaism, among others. Important sites of religious tourism and pilgrimage can also be found in all regions of the world. For example, some of the most important include the Maha Kumbh Mela in India, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and the Sanctuary of Atotonildo in Mexico.

This multistakeholder session will bring together academics, government authorities, and private sector representatives to discuss how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the tourism sector. Some questions that will be addressed include: What mechanisms are in place to address sexual harassment for women travellers? How are companies working to ensure women’s safety in the tourism industry? What can governments do to prevent sexual harassment for tourists?

Moderator:
Elaine Yang, Senior Lecturer, Griffith Business School | Department of Tourism, Sport & Hotel Management

Welcome and Opening Remarks:

Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results, UN Women
Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism

Speakers:

Hera Oktadiana, Adjunct Associate Professor at James Cook University, Australia
Celia Sanz Ezquerro, Spokesperson and Councillor for Equality and Governance, Logroño City Council, Spain
Nour Farra Haddad, Religious Anthropologist, Tourism Expert and Tour Guide, Lebanon

With more speakers to be announced soon.