Tag Archives: child trafficking

On Hershey’s PR Release of January, 30th 2012

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On  January 31st  2012,  The Hershey Company made an announcement regarding child labor in their supply line.  Click here to read the whole statement.   Simply, two commitments have been made :

1.“Over the next five years, The Hershey Company will expand and accelerate programs to improve cocoa communities by investing $10 million  (Over the next 5 years) in West Africa and continuing to work with experts in agriculture, community development and government to achieve progress with cocoa farmers and their families”.

2. “Later this year, U.S. consumers will be able to purchase Hershey’s Bliss® products with 100 percent cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. Rainforest Alliance Certified farms have met comprehensive sustainability standards that protect the environment and ensure the safety and well-being of workers, their families and communities.”

Let me first say that I commend Hershey’s on stepping up as far as they have.  Also, kudos to the NGO’s and people that put pressure on Hershey’s with various campaigns.   What though does this really mean?

So let’s look at commitment #1, the $10 million.  So that is $2 million a year.  If you read the recommendations in the 4th and Final Tulane Report you will see that this isn’t enough.  It really should be closer to $8 million a year per player (as in those that have signed the protocol).  The ICI alone needs $1 million a year for overhead alone so you get the idea.  But $2 million is more than zero.  I will address this later as more unfolds.

Commitment #2- Rain Forest Alliance.   Slave Free Chocolate is VERY pro Fair Trade Certified products.  Also, at this point, it’s the only tool that the consumer can use to vote with their dollar.   Simply, the principle behind the Fair Trade is a movement is to bring farmers and producers out of poverty by paying a higher price for their goods or commodities.  Along with a higher price comes a co-op system where the farmers and producers receive education and help so that they can afford to  fulfill the guidelines. These guidelines include rules of labor practices and in the case of children, the certification programs that align with the ILO convention 182.

Currently,  fair trade products amount to around $6 billion dollars of commodities and goods sold around the world and it is rising about 22% every year.  There are about 500 different fair trade labels.

Fair Trade programs though, don’t have in their infrastructure a program to re-mediate the worst forms of child labor.  Meaning, there are no funds allocated in a fair trade co-op to find trafficked children, get them to authorities and fund their trip back home or to someplace that will take care of them.  Although, ideally fair trade farms get paid more for their beans, it’s not enough of an increase to fund schools and hospitals for those kids working on these farms.  Also, fair trade co-ops provide guidelines for the farmers to better prosper but not to police the farms.

Is the fair trade movement today perfect?  No, nothing is. In fact, there is a lot of squabbling, splits and such going on right now.  The movement, though , is based on good intentions and their problems can and will be ironed out in time. More will be addressed in a different article.

What I want to point out it that buying fair trade beans is one thing, cleaning up the situation is West Africa is another.  Hershey’s soon to be announced Bliss Bar is all fine and dandy but it has nothing to do with getting these trafficked kids back home, getting the kids that fall under the worst forms of child labor back on a healthy track. That is what the $2 million is for and it is about 1/5 of where they need to be.  They know that.  They have copies of the 4th and Final Tulane report.

What we need is a certification program and/or Engel’s original legislation of “No Slavery Here” stamp that chocolate companies use in addition to their fair trade labels. Remember The Hershey Company is only one player in this.  We believe the quickest way to get everyone’s attention is to demand that the wording on EO13126 get’s fixed to included “And its derivative products.”

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day Campaign: Put some love in Executive Order 13126

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Slave Free Chocolate’s new site is barely up but, we don’t want to waste time getting people geared up for this easy peasy campaign on Feb. 13th and 14th.  We are looking for collaborators to help us outreach to their own networks and ask them to participate.  There is static page on this site with this same content. If you would like to draw people to your site for the content, feel free to grab anything below.

In 1999 the US Department of Labor issued Executive Order 13126. “Prohibition of Acquisition of Products Produced by Forced or  Indentured Child Labor,” was signed on June 12, 1999. The EO is intended  to ensure that federal agencies enforce laws relating to forced or indentured  child labor in the procurement process. It requires the Department of Labor, in  consultation with the Departments of State and Homeland Security, to publish  and maintain a list of products, by country of origin, which the three  Departments have a reasonable basis to believe, might have been mined, produced  or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor. Under the procurement  regulations implementing the Executive Order, federal contractors who supply  products on a list published by the Department of Labor must certify that they  have made a good faith effort to determine whether forced or indentured child  labor was used to produce the items listed.  Please see about link for detailed information.

There is a “mistake” on this order in regards to chocolate.  Cocoa  beans from The Ivory Coast and Nigeria is listed. Yet, companies like Hershey’s, Cargill and ADM to name a few who buy Ivory Coast cocoa beans still supply our federal government with their chocolate.  During my trip to capitol hill I found out why.  The federal government doesn’t buy cocoa beans, it buy it’s derivative product chocolate. If that ins’t a bunch smoke and mirrors malarkey, then what is?

We believe that in  order to be in line with its intention, these words need to be added: ”and its derivative products.”  If the big candy players can no longer sell to the feds, it would really wake them up.  Additionally, the bids for chocolate would go to ethical chocolate companies!!  What a great way to give them opportunity they deserve.

A powerful way to get our government in action is to appeal individually to our elected officials.  It seems that if we all write the exact same letter with the exact same subject line (email or written), at the same time, then the offices of our public servants have to take note. Addressing the “mistake” in Executive Order is something in their scope as a public servant.

It should take only about 15 minutes to send 3 emails. One to each of your Senators and one to your district Congressman on either Feb. the 13th or 14th. Here is a link that will lead you to the contact information of your politicians.  Below is the letter. Please spread the word it’s a numbers game at this point.  Thanks!!!!

THE LETTER WE SHOULD ALL USE:

Subject:  Put some love in Exec. Order 13126 this Valentine’s Day

Dear __________

As your constituent, I am writing you on behalf of DOL Executive Order 13126: “Prohibition of Acquisition of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor”, signed on June 12, 1999.   It’s wonderful that we live in a country concerned for the global welfare of children, unfortunately  there is a mistake on this order that needs to be fixed.

Currently, listed is cocoa from Cote d’ Ivoire and Nigeria. For this to have any effect at all I would like to see the words “and its derivative products” included on that line.  To my knowledge the federal government has never purchased raw cocoa beans, but it does, through procurement channels, purchase chocolate where the cocoa originated from the two countries in question.  I personally see no ethical difference between the raw beans and chocolate.

If your office is unfamiliar with the current situation regarding worst forms of child labor situation in West Africa, may I suggest you take a look at Tulane’s latest Report on the Harkin-Engel Protocol.

Adding “and its derivative products” will mean that our federal government will have to shift purchasing to smaller chocolate companies that only use ethically sourced cocoa.  I see that as a win for both the sake of the children and a bonus for the many small business that would love to have more opportunity for growth.

Thank you in advance for your help.

CNN Freedom Project Series put some attention on the cocoa kids.

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Finally, the US media is giving some attention to this issue.  On Jan. the 20th and 21st. CNN as part of their Freedom Project Series-Ending Modern Day Slavery will air a program illustrating the plight of the children that work in the cocoa fields of The Ivory Coast.  I think even advertising this spot will do wonders.  Here is a link to the story and I hope everyone has a chance to catch this.  CNN Program.

Slave Free Chocolate at Georgetown

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I just got back from doing a lecture at Georgetown U. as part of their Lecture Fund Series.  It went well and now that I have this speech and presentation, I am going on the road with it.  I also had a few meetings on capitol hill where I  met with Harkin’s office, Engel’s office and the head of Africa for the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

     Both Harkin’s office and Engel’s office clearly explained that as far as legislation, the public needs to push for the “No Slavery Here” stamp. Continue reading →

2008 Joint Statement for Harkin and Engel about the Protocol

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This is a great piece to get an understadning of where things stood 7 years after the initiation of the protocol.

Joint Statement from U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, Representative Eliot Engel and the Chocolate and Cocoa Industry on the Implementation of the Harkin-Engel Protocol

Protocol Drives Number of Achievements; Industry Outlines Next Steps

 

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (June 16, 2008) – In September 2001, industry representatives signed an agreement, today known as the “Harkin-Engel Protocol,” developed in partnership with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and U.S. Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY).  The agreement laid out a series of steps aimed at eliminating the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor from cocoa growing in West Africa.  An unprecedented effort, the Protocol marked the first time that an entire industry stepped forward and worked with governments, civil society and other stakeholders to address the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor in its supply chain.

The development of a system of public certification is a key part of the Harkin-Engel Protocol. In an agreement made in 2005, the industry committed that by July 1, 2008, a public certification system would be in place that would cover 50% of the cocoa farming sector of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.  In fact, the data collection element of the certification process covering an area that produces at least 50% of the cocoa farming output in each country has been completed, and reports detailing the preliminary results of these surveys by the respective governments are expected to be released by July 1.  However, independent verification, which is critical to establishing the validity of the results of the government conducted surveys, partially funded by the industry, will not be fully completed until the end of the year.   This robust verification process, which is underway, will improve data collection to ensure accurate reporting of the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor and strengthen remediation efforts.

This certification process has been developed as a cooperative effort between the North American and European chocolate and cocoa industry together with their international affiliates and the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.  These surveys, as part of the certification process, will eventually be representative of the entire cocoa sector, reporting the incidence of child and adult labor practices that are unacceptable.  This is not the same as product certification, whereby internationally recognized certifying organizations attest that particular products and their specific raw materials are produced according to labor practices that are confirmed by third party auditors.

The certification process being implemented will help governments, industry, and the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), to focus their efforts toward eliminating the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor in the cocoa supply chain. Ideally, over time, subsequent surveys will indicate an improvement in the status of child and adult labor practices.

Since its signing, the Protocol has been a positive and important catalyst for change, driving a number of important achievements.  

Today, both the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are working toward implementing detailed national plans of action, focused on child labor issues across all sectors of their economies, with dedicated senior level officials assigned to lead these ongoing efforts.  Both countries have invested in the implementation of certification, and will publicly post the results of their surveys.  In addition, each country has committed resources to address issues that are identified through the data collection / reporting process.  These efforts are to be acknowledged and applauded.

“I had a chance to see, first hand, the progress that is being made in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire during a trip in January,” said Senator Tom Harkin.  “After that trip and meeting children who have already been affected by our work, I am more dedicated than ever to seeing through the commitments made by the industry and the national governments under the Protocol.  I am hopeful that the industry will redouble its efforts to increase its contributions to the ICI to effectively deal with remediation needs.”

Representative Eliot Engel added, “Since 2001, I have been firmly committed to working with the cocoa industry and the governments of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire to do everything we can to work in partnership to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor. My trip to West Africa in January reaffirmed my commitment to this crucial process.”

 

“The certification process currently being undertaken is delivering an assessment of cocoa labor practices across ever-larger areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana,” said Larry Graham, President of the National Confectioners Association (NCA).  “Today, the ICI foundation is actively engaging communities to address labor issues and help children. And we have an ongoing, action-oriented partnership between industry, civil society and these governments, a partnership that will continue to drive change in the years ahead.”

The International Cocoa Initiative

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) was established in 2002, as called for under the Protocol.  A partnership among NGOs, trade unions, cocoa processors and major chocolate brands, the ICI is a unique initiative that combats the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor in cocoa farming.  To date, industry and individual companies have provided nearly $10 million in financial support for the ICI and its programs since its formation and will continue to support the foundation in the future. 

 

In 2008, the ICI is working in 104 communities in Côte d’Ivoire and 119 communities in Ghana. In 2006 – 2007 it organized 23 training sessions in Ghana and 17 in Côte d’Ivoire for government officials, local police, NGOs and media to sensitize participants with respect to child and adult labor practices.

 

“During my recent trip to Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, I was impressed by the work being done by the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI). The ICI is not only sensitizing communities about the hazards of child and forced adult labor, but is also working to promote the important role of quality education in childhood development,” said Representative Engel.

 

“But if we are to make real progress in eliminating the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor in the cocoa industry, I believe that the ICI must now substantially scale up its efforts in both Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. I look forward to working with all of the stakeholders to ensure that ICI efforts are deepened over the next year.”

 

 

Future Commitment:

 

Going forward, the chocolate and cocoa industry will continue to support efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and forced adult labor on cocoa farms and to help cocoa farmers, their families and communities by continuing to work with the national governments to ensure that the certification process, including remediation and verification are fully implemented.   

 

“As an industry, we see this effort as a long-term commitment, one that reflects a shared responsibility for the cocoa farmers and their families at the start of our supply chain,” said David Zimmer, Secretary General of Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit & Confectionery Industries of the EU (CAOBISCO).  “It is not a commitment that expires with any one date but rather is an essential, ongoing part of how we conduct business.   While we focus on near-term milestones, they are in fact part of a longer, sustained effort that reflects our corporate citizenship in this and other areas.”

 

In the next 2-3 years, this long-term commitment will include the following:  

 

Industry will work with the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to have a sector-wide independently verified certification process fully in place across each country’s cocoa-growing sector by the end of 2010.   

Industry will work closely with and assist the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana as they target and coordinate remediation efforts, based on the results from the certification data reports.  

Companies will deepen their support for the ICI as the foundation expands to additional communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana; further strengthens government capacity at the national level, and educates key stakeholders in the cocoa supply chain on safe, responsible labor practices.  

“Looking ahead, there is still much work to do and our commitment will remain firm,” remarked Bill Guyton, president of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an industry-supported organization that plays a leadership role in improving economic and social conditions for cocoa farming families.  “We will build upon the achievements within the Protocol framework, as well as upon our ongoing support for the economic and social development of cocoa farming communities, to make a better life for children and adults on cocoa farms.”