Congressional Record, Volume 148 Issue 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)

[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.

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).

____________________