Top Vatican official calls for women's rights in tourism industry

Published: 2007-09-27

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- More needs to be done to guarantee equal rights for women in the travel industry as well as tougher laws against their exploitation in sex tourism, said the Vatican secretary of state. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone called for more attention in safeguarding women's dignity and promoting their rights in a letter marking World Tourism Day, celebrated worldwide Sept. 27. The day, sponsored by the U.N. World Tourism Organization, was dedicated to the theme "Tourism Opens Doors for Women" and was aimed at promoting gender equality. In a letter addressed to Francesco Frangialli, head of the tourism organization, Cardinal Bertone sent Pope Benedict XVI's greetings and hopes that the day would help bring positive developments to tourism. The Vatican released a copy of the letter Sept. 27. The cardinal urged the passage of national laws and international agreements to combat "every form of unjust exploitation (of women) and the indecent commercialization of their bodies."

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