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.”
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For Immediate Release: June 16, 2008
Contact: Jennifer Mullin (Harkin): (202) 224-3254
Joseph O’Brien (Engel): (718) 796-9700
Susan Smith (NCA): (703) 790-5750