| WASHINGTON - October 1 - The International Labor
Organization (ILO) has welcomed the agreement between two members
of the U.S. Congress and representatives of the world chocolate
industry to eliminate child slavery on West African cocoa
plantations and end the worst forms of child labor in the global
cocoa-chocolate sector.
"This is another step forward to eradicating everywhere the
exploitation of children in the work place," said ILO
Director-General Juan Somavma. "The ILO -- through its
International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC)
-- and all the others involved in this new initiative is delighted
at the outcome."
The "Harkin-Engel Protocol", named after Sen. Tom Harkin
(D-Iowa) and Rep. Elliott Engel (D-N.Y.) who spearheaded talks in
Washington with the Chocolate Manufacturers Association and the
World Cocoa Foundation, resulted in the agreement being signed this
week to better identify and address abusive child labor practices
in the cocoa-growing areas of West Africa.
The ILO, the International Union of Food and Allied Workers
(IUF), the anti-slavery group "Free the Slaves" and the National
Consumers League (NCL) were initial members of an advisory group
that participated in the agreement. These non-industry, private
sector stakeholders, together with U.S. Government officials, will
be partners in carrying out all aspects of the Harkin-Engel
Protocol during the next four years.
The Protocol provides for the development of a credible,
mutually acceptable system of industry-wide global standards, along
with independent monitoring and reporting, to identify and
eliminate any use of the worst forms of child labor in the growing
and processing of cocoa beans. The agreement also provides for
public certification that cocoa used in chocolate or related
products has been grown and processed without forced child labor.
IPEC is also working with the U.S. Department of Labor and local
partners to conduct community surveys to assess the extent and
nature of child labor in cocoa growing in the Ivory Coast, said
Tony Freeman, director of the ILO Washington Branch Office.
"The cocoa projects are a welcome addition to IPEC's
cross-border child labor trafficking program, support by the
Department of Labor, and mark a milestone in efforts by the
countries of the region to rid themselves of egregious forms of
child labor in all sectors," Freeman said.
ILO-IPEC aims to progressively eliminate child labor worldwide,
emphasizing the eradication of the worst forms of abuse as quickly
as possible. To achieve this, it is active in more than 70
countries with programs that encourage policy reform and put in
place concrete measures to end child labor and through
international and national campaigns to change social attitudes and
promote ratification and effective implementation of ILO child
labor conventions.
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