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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
6.16.2008 - 09:36am ET
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CSR News from:
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The International Cocoa Initiative
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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
(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Cote 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 Cote
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 Cote 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 Cote 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 Cote
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 Cote d'Ivoire and
119 communities in Ghana.In 2006 - 2007 it organized 23 training sessions
in Ghana and 17 in Cote 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 Cote 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 Cote
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 Cote 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."
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