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Anti-Slavery International welcomes the UK Government's call for
forced labour to be combated where ever it is found and recognition
that it is used in some sectors of the cocoa industry.
The agreement by representatives from Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana,
and UK governments as well as the cocoa and chocolate industry for
a task force comprising government, industry and trade, and NGOs
to work together to end forced labour on cocoa farms in West Africa
is a positive move. It is important that a comprehensive study of
slavery in this sector is made and crucial that core international
labour standards -- particularly those prohibiting illegal child
labour and forced labour -- are introduced and implemented. But
slavery also needs to be tackled at its source. Poverty and the
lack of education and health care are central to child trafficking's
existence. Tackling these problems are as important as stopping
this human rights violation.
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