U.S. is sued over imports of cocoa harvested by child labor

Child Welfare Advocates File Lawsuit to Block Imports of Cocoa Harvested by Children in West Africa

Introduction

Child welfare advocates have filed a federal lawsuit urging the Biden administration to prohibit the importation of cocoa harvested by children in West Africa, which is used in popular chocolate desserts and candies in the United States. The lawsuit, brought by International Rights Advocates, seeks to enforce a 1930s-era federal law that requires the U.S. to ban products made by child labor from entering the country.

Evidence of Child Labor in Cocoa Production

The nonprofit organization claims that Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security have disregarded extensive evidence documenting children involved in cocoa cultivation for well-known U.S. candy makers, including Hershey, Mars, Nestle, and Cargill. Despite the major chocolate companies pledging to end their reliance on child labor by 2005, they now state that they will eliminate the worst forms of child labor in their supply chains by 2025.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This lawsuit aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. SDG 8 aims to promote decent work and economic growth, while SDG 12 focuses on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. By addressing child labor in cocoa production, this lawsuit contributes to achieving these global goals.

Enforcing the Law to Protect African Children

Terry Collingsworth, Executive Director of International Rights Advocates, stated that the major chocolate companies will only cease their reliance on child labor if they are compelled to do so. The U.S. government has the power to end this abuse of African children by enforcing the law. Customs and Border Protection declined to comment on the lawsuit specifically but acknowledged the issue of cocoa produced by child labor.

Extent of Child Labor in Ivory Coast and Ghana

Cocoa cultivation involving children in Ivory Coast and neighboring Ghana is not a new phenomenon. Various entities, including human rights leaders, academics, news organizations, and federal agencies, have exposed the plight of children working on cocoa plantations in these West African nations. A 2019 study commissioned by the U.S. government found that 790,000 children, some as young as 5 years old, were working on Ivory Coast cocoa plantations. Similar conditions were observed in Ghana.

Recognition of Child Labor as a Major Problem

The U.S. government has long recognized child labor as a significant issue in Ivory Coast. The Department of Labor’s 2021 report highlighted that children in Cote d’Ivoire are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including cocoa and coffee harvesting. The State Department also acknowledged that agriculture companies in Ivory Coast rely on child labor, particularly in cocoa production.

Legal Actions Against Chocolate Companies

International Rights Advocates has previously sued major chocolate companies to encourage them to abandon cocoa produced by child labor. While a case before the Supreme Court in 2021 was unsuccessful, several other lawsuits are pending. Despite commitments made by chocolate makers in 2001 to stop purchasing cocoa produced by child labor, experts and industry officials assert that this goal has not been achieved.

Impact on Consumers

Former Senator Tom Harkin emphasized that consumers are often unaware that the treats they enjoy are linked to child abuse. It is not just the chocolate itself but also the chocolate syrup, cocoa, and chocolate chip cookies that originate from cocoa produced by child labor.

Company Responses and Ivory Coast’s Economy

The World Cocoa Foundation, representing major cocoa companies, states its commitment to improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities. Hershey, Cargill, Nestle, and Mars have varying responses to the issue, with Hershey stating a zero-tolerance policy for child labor in its supply chain. Ivory Coast officials have expressed concerns that blocking cocoa imports would devastate the nation’s economy.

Conclusion

This lawsuit seeks to address the persistent problem of child labor in cocoa production in West Africa. By enforcing existing laws and holding companies accountable, child welfare advocates aim to protect African children from exploitation. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires collective efforts to eliminate child labor and promote sustainable practices in the cocoa industry.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article addresses issues related to child labor in the cocoa industry, which is connected to poverty (SDG 1), lack of access to quality education (SDG 4), exploitation and inequality in the workforce (SDG 8 and SDG 10), unsustainable production and consumption patterns (SDG 12), and the need for strong institutions to enforce laws against child labor (SDG 16).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
• Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
• Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Based on the article’s content, the targets identified include reducing poverty (Target 1.2), providing relevant skills for employment (Target 4.4), eradicating forced labor and child labor (Target 8.7), ensuring safe migration (Target 10.7), reducing food waste (Target 12.3), and ending exploitation and violence against children (Target 16.2).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 1.2.1: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age.
• Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.
• Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
• Indicator 10.7.1: Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of yearly income earned in country of destination.
• Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index.
• Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation.

The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but the identified targets can be measured using indicators such as the proportion of population living below the national poverty line (Indicator 1.2.1), proportion of youth and adults with relevant skills (Indicator 4.4.1), proportion and number of children engaged in child labor (Indicator 8.7.1), recruitment cost borne by employees (Indicator 10.7.1), food loss index (Indicator 12.3.1), and number of victims of human trafficking (Indicator 16.2.2).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators