Brian Wilson, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Minister of State,
on 4 May met representatives of the Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana
governments as well as from the cocoa and chocolate industry on
the issue of slave labour in the cocoa industry.
The meeting has resulted in agreement to establish a task force
comprising government, industry and trade, and non-governmental
organisations to address the issue of forced labour in West African
cocoa production.
"It is clear that forced labour is used in some sectors
of the cocoa industry, though there is no evidence it is widespread.
It is not a problem unique to West Africa, or to the cocoa industry.
But it must be combated wherever it is found," the UK Government
said.
Anti-Slavery International welcomes the 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.
