Children are still being sold by slave traffickers in Africa and forced to work on cocoa farms that help produce chocolate products for many companies over ten years after lawmakers tried to initiate measures to stop the inhumane practice. The chocolate industry initially resisted, but the Cocoa Protocol, or Harkin-Engel Protocol went into effect in 2011. The voluntary protocol, which was signed by the heads of the chocolate industry, was designed to stop the worst forms of child labour and to make sure the cocoa trade was child-labour free. A researcher that spent five years in the Ivory Coast said that he has seen very little implementation of the original commitments to end child slavery. Kraft-Cadbury says they are working with others in the industry to support the Harkin-Engel Protocol to work towards eliminating the worst forms of child-labour. Nestle say that they believe child labour has no place in their supply chain and they have firmly committed to eradicate unacceptable practices.
Pray: for a greater urgency in the implementation of the protocol by all in the cocoa industry. (Isa.49:16-18)