It's very normal to work on your family's farm. Many, if not most children on this planet have to work. The International Labor Organization which is part of the UN, has defines what its called the Worst Forms of Child Labor or WFCL (ILO Convention 182). Simply, children working in unsafe conditions, with no access to school or emergency first aid/care and includes all children that are trafficked and forced into labor. Most countries have ratified this convention.
Those who produce and harvest our agricultural commodities have always been on the poorest end of the stick. Abject poverty and unfair labor practices often go hand and hand. In two West African countries, Ghana and The Ivory Coast, 1.8 million children are at risk of falling under the WFCL and the majority do. Estimated percentage vary but a good chunk are modern day traffic children. Boys make up about 70% of the trafficked children and ages vary the bulk between 10 and 15 years of age.
As there are many similar situations like this in the world, this one is of particular interest as it is tied to chocolate, a US$ 90 billion industry, a treat. We as American consumers are at the other end of this supply chain whenever we throw some M&M's in our mouth.
At the beginning of the supply chain you have children climbing trees with 2 foot long machetes, hacking gourd like pods off the cocoa tree trunks, then hacking them open with the same machetes to prize out the slimy beans to dry in the sun, with no emergency first aid services in site. These children are using pesticides and carrying heavy loads. Only a handful of schools exist. The trafficked children usually come from two poorer countries to the north east, Mali and Burkina Faso. Desperate for income, an uncle may sell a relative, often a child is lured by a lump sum of cash when the season completes and a portion are simply stolen off the streets and sold to brokers or plantation owners for about 250 euros. These children are beaten if they don't work hard enough or try to escape and are locked up at night.
Both our government and those of Ghana and The Ivory Coast agree that this should be remedied. The candy companies promised responsibility and urgent action to have this situation remedied by 2005. Something have been done, some things haven't been done and there are things we haven't even thought of or tried. Sadly, we are 10 year out from the gates and we are only 5% down the road.
It is in the opinion of Slave Free Chocolate that the surface has been scratched a structure of remediation put in place but those who signed the protocol haven't done what they promised to do and fund this puppy. Our government worked hard to create a structure that would make it as easy as possible for the industry to comply. Those that are out of integrity with their word and actions are: Cargill, Archer Daniel Midland, Nestle, Hershey, Kraft, World's Finest Chocolate, Guittard Chocolate, Barry Callebaut and Blommer Inc.
Slave Free Chocolate's mission is to spread awareness and educate consumers to use their voice and dollar as a vote that we don't want slavery in our chocolate. If you are interested in helping by writing some letters to your elected officials, local grocery stores and candy companies, please go to Slave Free Chocolate.
