[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S224-S227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ENDING THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR AND FORCED LABOR IN THE COCOA AND 
                      CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, we all know that values matter to 
Americans. It is also becoming increasingly clear that they matter 
inside the global marketplace as well as outside. That explains why, 
according to a recent nationwide poll, 77 percent of Americans said 
they would likely look for a label when purchasing if there was a label 
on some products to indicate that they were made without the use of 
exploitive child labor.
  Most Americans also understand that in today's complex, interwoven 
global economy, some of our cherished values come into conflict with 
one another in new and different ways and require very difficult trade-
offs. For example, more free trade and free enterprise, as practiced in 
the real world versus more economic fairness, social justice and 
environmental sustainability. Recognizing this creative tension, 76 
percent of Americans in a recent nationwide poll on globalization said 
they would pay more and buy a piece of clothing for $25 that is 
certified as not made in a sweatshop instead of buying the same article 
of clothing for $20 if they were not sure how it was made. Most 
Americans clearly want to bring our fundamental values--a sense of fair 
play, universal respect for human rights and worker rights, better 
stewardship of our shared environment, and more hope and equal 
opportunity for our children and grandchildren--into the conduct of 
international business and investment. But so far the global 
marketplace isn't readily giving American consumers and investors that 
choice.
  Then what were we to do when the Knight-Ridder newspapers in June, 
2001 brought us--a nation of chocaholics--face to face with child 
slavery in the production and harvesting of cocoa beans in the Ivory 
Coast. This impoverished West African country exports more than 40 
percent of the world's supply of this agricultural commodity.
  To his credit, Congressman Elliott Engel from New York immediately 
saw the contradiction and reacted with outrage. He took to the House 
floor last summer and won passage of an amendment to the House version 
of the fiscal year 2002 Agriculture Appropriations bill on a very lop-
sided, bipartisan vote. His amendment would have provided $250,000 for 
the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, to come up with a label to 
attach to all chocolate products for sale and distribution in the U.S. 
within one year to attest that they were made without any child slave 
labor. While both the FDA and the chocolate companies quickly protested 
that such a goal was unrealistic and impossible to attain, I shared 
Congressman Engel's resolve that clear and decisive corrective action 
had to be taken.
  Accordingly, I called representatives of the major chocolate 
companies to a meeting early last July to underscore the seriousness of 
the forced child labor problem that had been exposed in their chain of 
production and to determine what they planned to do about it. I also 
reminded them at that time that U.S. law currently prohibits the 
importing of any products made, whole or in part, with forced or 
indentured child labor. And Senator Kohl, our Agriculture 
Appropriations Subcommittee chairman, and I gave notice of our intent 
to offer an amendment on the Senate floor, if need be, as early as last 
September. This set the stage for a series of lengthy, intense 
negotiations, set in motion by Senator Kohl, between ourselves and 
representatives of the major chocolate companies and cocoa bean 
processors.
  I insisted from our first meeting that to avoid Senate legislation, 
the industry would have to meet two requirements:
  First, they would have to commit to a set of principles and a time-
bound action plan to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, 
including but not limited to forced child labor, throughout their chain 
of production and as a matter of the utmost urgency.
  Second, if and when we might arrive at a mutually-acceptable 
framework agreement, they--the industry--would have to take that 
framework agreement to the other, non-industry stakeholders with an 
interest and expertise in child labor problem-solving and persuade them 
to participate as full partners in hammering out and fulfilling all of 
the requirements in this agreement on a mutually-acceptable basis and 
according to firm, prescribed deadlines.
  I am happy to say these fundamental requirements were met when the 
Harkin-Engel Protocol on the Worst Forms of Child Labor in the Cocoa 
and Chocolate Industry was signed and announced publicly last October 
1. This unprecedented framework agreement that will result in a 
credible, public certification system of industry-wide global standards 
within 4 years to attest that cocoa beans and all of their derivative 
products have been produced without any of the worst forms of child 
labor as clearly defined in ILO Convention No. 182.
  We knew at the outset that it would not be easy to achieve this 
breakthrough. While there were strong, initial objections raised about 
labeling by some industry spokespersons, it also became clear in the 
course of our negotiations that a reliable labeling system could be 
developed, given the political will and incentives to do so. Officials 
of the ILO and some company representatives themselves acknowledged it 
could be achieved in this far-flung industry in 3-5 years. It was a 
matter of how quickly industry-wide standards could be defined, 
implemented, and subjected to effective, independent monitoring, and 
public reporting by all major stakeholders.
  Let me be clear. The Harkin-Engel Protocol on the Worst Forms of 
Child Labor is a very good agreement, but it is not perfect. It is a 
breakthrough that sets out a specific, finite timetable during which 
something will be built incrementally that has never existed before--
the capacity to publicly and credibly certify worldwide that cocoa 
beans and all of the products made from them have been produced and 
processed free of any of the worst forms of child labor.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have copies of this 
unprecedented agreement and its underlying principles re-printed in 
their entirety in the Record following my remarks. It is to be called 
the Protocol For The Growing And Processing Of Cocoa Beans In A Manner 
That Complies With ILO Convention 182 Concerning The Prohibition And 
Immediate Action

[[Page S225]]

For The Elimination Of The Worst Forms Of Child Labor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See Exhibit 1.)
  Mr. HARKIN. I want to briefly highlight key provisions that together 
make this framework agreement a real breakthrough:

  First, it requires the industry to publicly acknowledge the use of 
forced child labor and to assume primary responsibility, including 
financial responsibility, for ending these intolerable practices. This 
is only fair and right.
  Second, it requires the industry to partner and bargain every step of 
the way with the other major stakeholders cocoa producers, organized 
labor, non-governmental organizations, consumer groups and governments 
among them--who have an interest and expertise in achieving the 
abolition of the worst forms of child labor in this sector. Last 
December 1, all of these stakeholders hammered out and signed a 
mutually-acceptable joint statement that recognizes and affirms their 
shared commitment to act together with urgency to eliminate the worst 
forms of child labor in the cocoa and chocolate business. I ask 
unanimous consent that this public statement also appear in the Record 
at the conclusion of my remarks.
  Furthermore, by next May, a binding, public memorandum of cooperation 
must be agreed among all of the major stakeholders that establishes a 
joint program of research, information exchange, and action to enforce 
internationally-recognized standards to eliminate the worst forms of 
child labor and forced labor from this sector of agriculture and food 
processing worldwide.
  Third, by next July, this industry will have made its initial down-
payment of funds to establish a new international foundation to oversee 
and sustain over time the global effort to eliminate the worst forms of 
child labor and forced labor in the growing and processing of cocoa 
beans and their derivative products. This will be a private, non-profit 
foundation governed and administered by all of the major stakeholders. 
The support of field projects in the Ivory Coast and other cocoa-
exporting countries along with the establishment of a clearinghouse on 
best practices to eliminate the worst forms of child labor will be 
among its initial purposes.
  Fourth, this framework agreement must yield within 4 years the first-
ever global capacity in this sector to publicly and credibly certify 
that the cocoa and chocolate products we eat and enjoy every day have 
been produced without any child slavery or use of any of the worst 
forms of child labor. This will be a giant step forward. A very diverse 
set of stakeholders has publicly committed ourselves for the first time 
in America and abroad to rooting out and ending the worst forms of 
child labor and forced labor, wherever they exist. The resulting system 
of public certification should take us 99 percent of the way during the 
next 4 years toward a credible and effective means of empowering 
consumers to reliably do the right thing. It would be my hope and 
expectation at that point in time, if not sooner, that one or many of 
the stakeholder companies will take the final step and decide for 
itself that it is in their own interest as well as the public interest 
to give their customers what most consumers in America and around the 
world want--products with a reliable label ensuring that none of the 
worst forms of child labor have been associated with their production.
  Now I want to conclude my statement by recalling the life and vision 
of a great American, Milton Hershey, whose legacy from the 20th century 
is relevant to the 21st century challenge that has brought the Harkin-
Engel Protocol into being. He grew up in family in Pennsylvania that 
was almost always broke and constantly on the move. Neighbors 
remembered seeing him as a boy going about the streets barefoot, 
selling berries door-to-door. But as a young man, he started a small 
company making caramels--The Lancaster Caramel Company--and built it 
into a thriving interstate business. At the age of 33, he was wealthier 
than he had ever dreamed. That was even before he started the Hershey 
Chocolate Company in a back corner of his caramel factory. The rest is 
history, as he went on to give America our first five-cent milk 
chocolate candy bar and became fabulously rich.
  But it was Hershey's philanthropic example that stands out and is 
most relevant. In 1909, just 6 years after breaking ground for his 
first chocolate factory, he and his wife set up a trust fund to found a 
school for poor, orphaned boys. The Hershey Industrial School continues 
to flourish today, having provided a good home and a better chance in 
life for nearly a century for countless thousands of American children 
in need. In fact, at a comparative young age, he donated his entire 
estate to the Hershey Trust Fund for the benefit of the school, 
including land and all of his stock valued at more than $60 million in 
1918.
  Today, Milton Hershey's remarkable gift is worth more than $5 billion 
and the school is one of the richest private education institutions in 
our country. It continues to provide a home and quality education to 
more than 1,000 students every year--girls and boys of all races and 
religions who come mostly from broken families in poor inner-city 
neighborhoods.
  If he was alive today, I think he would approve of this unprecedented 
framework agreement and the collaborative, child labor problem-solving 
process it has set in motion. He wouldn't see these child slaves in the 
Ivory Coast as children of a lesser god. Surely, he would open his 
heart and his wallet to do no less for the impoverished and powerless 
children of the Ivory Coast, Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia, and all the 
other cocoa-producing countries. All of the stakeholders in this 
breakthrough agreement should do no less. Now we have to roll up our 
sleeves, go to work building certification capacity, and meet all of 
the deadlines to confidently eliminate the worst forms of child labor 
and forced labor from the cocoa and chocolate business worldwide once 
and for all. In so doing, we will have hopefully blazed a new trail and 
provided a worthy model that is transferable to other industries where 
millions of child laborers work in darkness and without prospects for a 
brighter future.

                               Exhibit 1


                          Chocolate Manufacturers Association,

                                                       Vienna, VA.

   Protocol for the Growing and Processing of Cocoa Beans and Their 
 Derivative Products In a Manner that Complies with ILO Convention 182 
Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of 
                     the Worst Form of Child Labor

                          Guiding Principles:

       OBJECTIVE--Cocoa beans and their derivative products should 
     be grown and processed in a manner that complies with 
     International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182 
     Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the 
     Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. ILO Convention 
     182 is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
       RESPONSIBILITY--Achieving this objective is possible only 
     through partnership among the major stakeholders: 
     governments, global industry (comprised of major 
     manufacturers of cocoa and chocolate products as well as 
     other, major cocoa users), cocoa producers, organized labor, 
     non-governmental organizations, and consumers. Each partner 
     has important responsibilities. This protocol evidences 
     industry's commitment to carry out its responsibilities 
     through continuation and expansion of ongoing programs in 
     cocoa-producing countries and through the other steps 
     described in this document.
       CREDIBLE, EFFECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING--In fashioning a long-
     term solution, the problem-solving process should involve the 
     major stakeholders in order to maximize both the credibility 
     and effectiveness of the problem-solving action plan that is 
     mutually-agreed upon.
       SUSTAINABILITY--A multi-sectoral infrastructure, including 
     but independent of the industry, should be created to develop 
     the action plan expeditiously.
       ILO EXPERTISE--Consistent with its support for ILO 
     Convention 182, industry recognizes the ILO's unique 
     expertise and welcomes its involvement in addressing this 
     serious problem. The ILO must have a ``seat at the table'' 
     and an active role in assessing, monitoring, reporting on, 
     and remedying the worst forms of child labor in the growing 
     and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products.

 Key Action Plan and Steps to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor:

       (1) Public Statement of Need for and Terms of an Action 
     Plan--Industry has publicly acknowledged the problem of 
     forced child labor in West Africa and will continue to commit 
     significant resources to address it. West African nations 
     also have acknowledged the problem and have taken steps under 
     their

[[Page S226]]

     own laws to stop the practice. More is needed because, while 
     the scope of the problem is uncertain, the occurrence of the 
     worst forms of child labor in the growing and processing of 
     cocoa beans and their derivative products is imply 
     unacceptable. Industry will reiterate its acknowledgment of 
     the problem and in a highly-public way will commit itself to 
     this protocol.
       (2) Formation of Mutli-Sectoral Advisory Groups--By October 
     1, 2001, an advisory group will be constituted with 
     particular responsibility for the on-going investigation of 
     labor practices in West Africa. By December 1, 2001, industry 
     will constitute a broad consultative group with 
     representatives of major stakeholders to advise in the 
     formulation of appropriate remedies for the elimination of 
     the worst forms of child labor in the growing and processing 
     of cocoa beans and their derivative products.
       (3) Signed Joint Statement on Child Labor to Be Witnessed 
     at the ILO--By December 1, 2001, a joint statement made by 
     the major stakeholders will recognize, as a matter of 
     urgency, the need to end the worst form of child labor in 
     connection with the growing and processing of West African 
     cocoa beans and their derivative products and the need to 
     identify positive developmental alternatives for the children 
     removed from the worst forms of child labor in the growing 
     and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products.
       (4) Memorandum of Cooperation--By May 1, 2002, there will 
     be a binding memorandum of cooperation among the major 
     stakeholders that establishes a joint action program of 
     research, information exchange, and action to enforce the 
     internationally-recognized and mutually-agreed upon standard 
     to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the growing 
     and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products 
     and to establish independent means of monitoring and public 
     reporting on compliance with those standards.
       (5) Establishment of Joint Foundation--By July 1, 2002, 
     industry will establish a joint international foundation to 
     oversee and sustain efforts to eliminate the worst forms of 
     child labor in the growing and processing of cocoa beans and 
     their derivative products. This private, not-for-profit 
     foundation will be governed by a Board comprised of industry 
     and other, non-government stakeholders. Industry will provide 
     initial and on-going, primary financial support for the 
     foundation. The foundation's purposes will include field 
     projects and a clearinghouse on best practices to eliminate 
     the worst forms of child labor.
       (6) Building Toward Credible Standards--In conjunction with 
     governmental agencies and other parties, industry is 
     currently conducing baseline-investigative surveys of child 
     labor practices in West Africa to be completed by December 
     31, 2001. Taking into account those surveys and in accordance 
     with the other deadlines prescribed in this action plan, by 
     July 1, 2005, the industry in partnership with other major 
     stakeholders will develop and implement credible, mutually-
     acceptable, voluntary, industry-wide standards of public 
     certification, consistent with applicable federal law, that 
     cocoa beans and their derivative products have been grown 
     and/or processed without any of the worst forms of child 
     labor.
       We, the undersigned, as of September 19, 2001 and 
     henceforth, commit the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, 
     the World Cocoa Foundation, and all of our members 
     wholeheartedly to work with the other major stakeholders, to 
     fulfill the letter and spirit of this Protocol, and to do so 
     in accordance with the deadlines prescribed herein.
       Mr. Larry Graham, Chocolate Manufacturers Association.
       Mr. William Guyton, World Cocoa Foundation.


                               witnesseth

       We hereby witness the commitment of leaders of the cocoa 
     and chocolate industry evidenced on September 19, 2001 and 
     henceforth to fulfill the letter and spirit of this Protocol 
     to eliminate the worst forms of child labor from this sector 
     as a matter of urgency and in accordance with the terms and 
     deadlines prescribed herein.
       Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Herbert Kohl, Congressman Eliot 
     Engel.
       Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba, Embassy of the Ivory Coast.
       Mr. Frans Roselaers, Director, International Labor 
     Organization.
       Mr. Ron Oswald, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' 
     Associations (IUF).
       Mr. Kevin Bales, Free The Slaves.
       Ms. Linda Golodner, National Consumers League.
       Ms. Darlene Adkins, The Child Labor Coalition.
       We personally support the protocol entered into by industry 
     Protocol for the Growing and Processing of Cocoa Beans and 
     their Derivative products In a Manner that Complies with ILO 
     Convention 182 Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate 
     Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor 
     and look forward to its successful execution which we support 
     wholeheartedly.
       Gary Guittard, Guittard Chocolate Company.
       Edmond Opler, Jr., World's Finest Chocolate, Inc.
       Bradley Alford, Nestle Chocolate & Confections USA.
       Richard H. Lenny, Hershey Food Corporation.
       Paul Michaels, M&M/Mars, Inc.
       G. Allen Andreas, Archer Daniels Midland Company.
       Henry Bloomer, Jr., Bloomer Chocolate Company.
       Andreas Schmid, Barry Callebaut AG.
                                  ____

         Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery 
           Industries of the EU,
                             Brussels, Belgium, September 3, 2001.

   Protocol for the Growing and Processing of Cocoa Beans and Their 
 Derivative Products in a Manner That Complies With ILO Convention 182 
Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of 
                     the Worst Forms of Child Labor

       CAOBISCO is the Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and 
     Confectionery industries of the European Union with 
     Association Members in Switzerland, Norway, Hungary and 
     Poland, representing through its National Associations circa 
     1800 companies in Europe.
       CAOBISCO, in addition to its own actions on this important 
     issue, endorses the initiatives taken in the United States by 
     political representatives, the industry and other 
     stakeholders.
       CAOBISCO associates itself with the above Protocol. 
     CAOBISCO will also ensure that the appropriate political 
     authorities in Europe are made fully conversant with the 
     guiding principles of this Protocol and that there is 
     complementarity between these principles and parallel actions 
     pursued in Europe.
     Hans Rysgaard,
       President.
     David Zimmer,
       Secretary General.
                                  ____



                                   European Cocoa Association,

                             Brussels, Belgium, September 4, 2001.

   Protocol for the Growing and Processing of Cocoa Beans and Their 
 Derivative Products in a Manner that Complies with ILO Convention 182 
Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of 
                    the Worst Forms of Child Labour

       ECA is a trade association representing the European cocoa 
     sector and includes companies from the entire cocoa industry 
     chain. Members are cocoa converters, industrial chocolate 
     producers, traders or are involved in warehousing and/or in 
     related logistical aspects. Together, ECA members represent 
     close to 75% of Europe's cocoa beans grinding, 50% of 
     Europe's industrial chocolate production and 40% of world 
     production of cocoa liquor, butter and powder.
       The issue of exploitative child labour clearly requires the 
     commitment of governments as well as co-operation across the 
     entire cocoa chain. In this context, the ECA will continue to 
     play an active role, and hence welcomes the protocol as a 
     valuable step toward the definition of an international 
     response by all concerned parties.
       It may be expected that the European regulators and 
     industry, taking into consideration their own external 
     environment and relationship with the West African origin 
     countries, will reach similar conclusions that will comfort 
     the needed global approach. ECA, like Caobisco, will ensure 
     that there is complementarity between the above initiative 
     and parallel actions being pursued in Europe.
                                                Robert A. Zehnder,
     Secretary General.
                                  ____



                             International Cocoa Organization,

                                       London, September 11, 2001.

   Protocol for the Growing and Processing of Cocoa Beans and Their 
 Derivative Products in a Manner that Complies with ILO Convention 182 
Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of 
                    the Worse Forms of Child Labour

       The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) is an 
     intergovernmental institution created in 1972 under the 
     auspices of the United Nations, with the aim to monitor the 
     international cocoa market, for the benefit of both cocoa 
     exporters and importers.
       There are 42 member countries in the Organisation, of which 
     19 are exporting members and 22 importing members.
       Exporting members are: Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Cote 
     d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, 
     Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Sao Tome 
     and Principe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, 
     Venezuela.
       Importing members are: Austria, Belgium/Luxembourg; Czech 
     Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
     Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, 
     Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, 
     Switzerland, United Kingdom.
       The ICCO fully endorses the initiative taken in the United 
     States, by political representatives, the industry and other 
     stakeholders. This is in line with the Resolution adopted in 
     June 2001 by the International cocoa council, on agricultural 
     working practices, and with the provisions of Article 49 of 
     the International cocoa agreement 1993, regarding fair labour 
     standards.
       The ICCO supports the above mentioned PROTOCOL.
       The ICCO encourages its member Governments to investigate 
     and eradicate any criminal child labour activity that might

[[Page S227]]

     exist in their territory in the field of agricultural working 
     practices, in close co-operation with UNICEF, ILO, FAO and 
     the private sector.
       The ICCO has decided to include in the design of its 
     relevant projects, activities in support of member countries 
     in the eradication of unlawful practices concerning child 
     labour.
                                                   Kouame Edouard,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____


                   Joint Statement, November 30, 2001

       The Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery 
     Industries of the EU, the Chocolate Manufacturers Association 
     of the USA, the Confectionery Manufacturers Association of 
     Canada, the Cocoa Association of London and the Federation 
     for Cocoa Commerce, the Cocoa Merchants Association of 
     America, the European Cocoa Association, the International 
     Office of Cocoa, Chocolate and Confectionery, the World Cocoa 
     Foundation, the Child Labor Coalition, Free The Slaves, the 
     International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, 
     Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations, and the 
     National Consumers League (sometimes hereinafter the 
     ``Signatories'') recognize the urgent need to identify and 
     eliminate child labour in violation of International Labour 
     Organization (``ILO'') Convention 182 with respect to the 
     growing and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative 
     products. The Signatories also recognize the need to identify 
     and eliminate practices in violation of ILO Convention 29 
     with equal urgency.
       The Signatories affirm their support for the International 
     Labour Organization's (LIO) mission to improve working 
     conditions worldwide, as exemplified in the ILO Declaration 
     on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. We also share 
     the view that practices in violation of ILO Conventions 182 
     (the ``worst forms of child labour'') and 29 (``forced 
     labour'') result from poverty and a complex set of social and 
     economic conditions often faced by small family farmers and 
     agricultural workers, and that effective solutions to address 
     these violations must include action by appropriate parties 
     to improve overall labour standards and access to education.
       The Signatories support the framework provided in the 
     Protocol signed by the Chocolate Manufacturers Association 
     and the World Cocoa Foundation on September 19, 2001, which 
     provides for cooperation and for credible, problem solving in 
     West Africa, where a specific program of research, 
     information exchange, and action is immediately warranted. 
     This Joint Statement expresses the shared commitment of the 
     Signatories to work collaboratively toward the goal of 
     eliminating the worst forms of child labour and forced labour 
     in cocoa growing.
       The strategies developed as part of this process will only 
     be credible to the public and meet the expectations of 
     consumers if there is committed engagement on the part of 
     governments, global industry (comprised of major 
     manufacturers of cocoa and chocolate products as well as 
     other, major cocoa users), cocoa producers, labour 
     representatives, non-governmental organizations, and 
     consumers that have joined this process.
       The Signatories recognize the need to work in concert with 
     the ILO because the ILO will play an important role in 
     identifying positive strategies, including developmental 
     alternatives for children engaged in the worst forms of child 
     labour and adults engaged in forced labour in the growing and 
     processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products.
       The strategies to be developed will be effective only if 
     they are comprehensive and part of a durable initiative. The 
     steps to be taken to sustain this initiative include: (i) 
     execution of a binding memorandum of cooperation among the 
     Signatories that establishes a joint action program of 
     research, information exchange, and action to enforce the 
     internationally-recognized and mutually-agreed upon standards 
     to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in the growing 
     and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products; 
     (ii) incorporation of this research that will include efforts 
     to determine the most appropriate and practicable independent 
     means of monitoring and public reporting in compliance with 
     those standards; and (iii) establishment of a joint 
     foundation to oversee and sustain efforts to eliminate the 
     worst forms of child labour and forced labour in the growing 
     the processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products. 
     The Signatories welcome industry's commitment to provide 
     initial and ongoing, primary financial support for the 
     foundation.
       We anticipate that other parties may be able to play a 
     positive role in our important work. Subject to mutual 
     consent by the Signatories, additional parties may be invited 
     to sign onto this statement in the future.
       Witnessed by the International Labour Organization this 
     30th day of November, 2001. Geneva, Switzerland.
       Mr. Frans Roselaers, International Labor Organization.
       Mr. David Zimmer, CAOBISCO.
       Mr. Lawrence Graham, Chocolate Manufacturers Association of 
     the USA.
       Mr. John Rowesome, Confectionery Manufacturers Association 
     of Canada.
       Mr. Phil Sigley, Federation for Cocoa Commerce.
       Mr. Thomas P. Hogan, Cocoa Merchants Association of 
     America.
       Mr. Robert Zehnder, European Cocoa Association.
       Mr. Tom Harrison, International Office of Cocoa, Chocolate 
     and Confectionery.
       Mr. Bill Guyton, World Cocoa Foundation.
       Ms. Darlene Adkins, The Child Labor Coalition.
       Mr. Kevin Bales, Free the Slaves.
       Mr. Ron Oswald, Allied Workers' Associations (IUF).
       Ms. Linda Golodner, National Consumers League.
         Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery 
           Industries of the EU, Chocolate Manufacturers 
           Association, Confectionery Manufacturers Association of 
           Canada, European Cocoa Association,
                                                 December 1, 2001.

 International Alliance Joins Forces To Address Child Labour Abuse in 
                     the West African Cocoa Sector

       The global cocoa and chocolate industry today joined a 
     diverse group of partners to sign a joint statement re-
     affirming the urgent need to end the worse forms of child 
     labour and forced labour in cocoa cultivation and processing 
     in West Africa. The joint statement was signed by 
     representatives of non-governmental organisations, anti-
     slavery and human rights experts, consumer groups and labour 
     representatives. The International Labor Organization (ILO) 
     witnessed signature of the statement.
       The problems of the worst forms of child labour and forced 
     labour are complex and can only effectively be addressed with 
     the commitments of all the partners signing the statement 
     today, together with governments. The global cocoa and 
     chocolate industry is committed to playing an active part in 
     this initiative. A significant effort is under way to asses 
     the precise scope of the problem through independent 
     investigative surveys. The data of the surveys will be 
     analysed by experts during the first quarter of next year.
       Today's joint statement is in keeping with the commitments 
     made by industry to address the worst forms of child labour 
     and forced labour. On 19 September this year, industry 
     developed and signed a protocol, which lays out an action 
     plan to combat the problem, with input from governments and 
     human rights experts. Active implementation of the industry 
     Protocol began in October this year.
       In addition, industry has constituted a Broad Consultative 
     Group to advise in the formulation of appropriate remedies 
     for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and 
     forced labour in the growing and processing of cocoa beans. 
     The signatories to the joint statement have been invited to 
     join the Broad Consultative Group.
       The signatories to the joint statement are: Cocoa and 
     Chocolate Industry, The Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit 
     and Confectionery Industries of the EU (CAOBISCO), 
     International Labour Organisation (Witnessing); The Chocolate 
     Manufacturers Association of the USA (CMA), Free The Slaves; 
     The Confectionery Manufacturers Association of Canada (CMAC), 
     The Child Labor Coalition; The Cocoa Association of London 
     (CAL), The National Consumers League; The Cocoa Merchants 
     Association of America (CMAA), The Federation for Cocoa 
     Commerce (FCC), The International Union of Food, 
     Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied 
     Workers Associations (IUF); The European Cocoa Association 
     (ECA); The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF); The International 
     Office of Cocoa, Chocolate and Confectionery (IOCCC).

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