The 19th of september 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Harkin-Engel Protocol, an agreement that calls for major chocolate producers to force an end to the child trafficking and slavery rampant in West African cocoa-producing countries. The protocol, initiated by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Eliot Engel, was the inspiration for Teun Van de Keuken in his original effort to investigate and expose slavery in the chocolate industry, and to throw chocolate behemoth Nestlé into the limelight.
The target date to meet the requirements of the protocol was 2005, yet a government funded Tulane University study performed between 2006 and 2011, demonstrates that all six of the Harkin-Engel Protocol goals have yet to be met.
Ten years on, many children in places such as Ivory Coast, the world’s largest source of cocoa, remain the victims of trafficking, forced into long work days under difficult conditions. But, whereas cocoa industry child trafficking and slavery was denied ten years ago, it is now officially recognized. Recognition of the problem is a small but significant leap forward. The reality and the consequences of child trafficking and slavery can no longer be denied – especially by chocolate-loving consumers, the chocolate industry, local authorities and, of course, us.
Today marks the start of a new campaign: The 10 Campaign. The 10 Campaign is an initiative inspired by an internationally diverse group of organizations that monitor the cocoa industry. These organizations including the Netherlands-based Stop the Traffik and FNV Bondgenoten, the U.S.-based International Labor Rights Forum, along with additional groups from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, England, and Australia. All are calling for strong legislation to finally eradicate child trafficking and slavery in the chocolate industry. Tony’s Chocolonely is coming out in strong support for The 10 Campaign.
Learn more about The 10 Campaign and show your support
- CNN will host the official launch of The 10 Campaign on Monday evening, September 19th.
- Support The 10 Campaign on Facebook.
- Send a postcard indicating your support of The 10 Campaign to your government representative.
- Share your knowledge and thoughts about The 10 Campaign with family and friends!
