Since 2006, STOP THE TRAFFIK have been running a campaign which focuses on ending child trafficking into the cocoa industry. Specific emphasis is on the major cocoa growing nations of West Africa, particularly The Ivory Coast, which together produces over a thrird of the world’s cocoa.[8] The campaign has seen some success, with several major chocolate manufacturers agreeing to adopt Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance cocoa. Some of those who have announced this switch since the campaign began: Mars have pledged to make their Galaxybar Traffic Free by 2010, and their global range by 2020;[9] Dutch manufacturer Verkade committed to 100% Fairtrade cocoa and sugar in their chocolate bars in the Netherlands from autumn 2008; Swiss Noir committed to Fairtrade cocoa in their chocolate bars in the Netherlands from March 2009; Cadbury committed to producing a Fairtrade Dairy Milk bar in the UK andIreland from autumn 2009.[10][11]
Typical STOP THE TRAFFIK campaign material is often presented like this:
The truth behind your tasty treats
Over a third of the world's chocolate comes from Cote D'Ivoire, Africa.It's highly likely that your favourite chocolate bar comes from here.
Thousands of children — from within the Cote D'Ivoire and neighbouring countries — who pick and harvest these beans have been trafficked.
They have had their freedom taken away from them and are forced to work long hours on the cocoa plantations without receiving any money for their work.
In 2001 the ICI (International Cocoa Initiative) was set up as part of the Harkin–Engel Protocol to combat trafficking in the chocolate industry.
Although small scale community projects have been set up, the ICI actually promised to eradicate the worst forms of child labour, including trafficking, by 2005.We want the chocolate industry to live up to its promises and give us traffik free chocolate.
- They missed the deadline.
- They then extended the deadline to 2008.
- We are still waiting.
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