Child Labour in Kiwi Chocolate This Easter
DID YOU KNOW in Cote D’Ivoire, boys as young as 10 yrs old are trafficked from neighbouring countries to pick and
harvest cocoa beans? The cocoa that they harvest is likely to be in our chocolate this easter.
In situations of poverty and exploitation, trafficked children and adults labour on cocoa farms in West Africa. We think
chocolate companies have a responsibility to address the key issues that contribute to the trafficking of children for
work on cocoa farms. These children are subject to physical, emotional and sexual abuse and chocolate producers have the
power to stand up for their freedom and their rights. Large global chocolate companies hold a lot of power within the
industry, much more than the cocoa farmers, workers and co-ops on the ground and especially in places like Côte
d'Ivoire, West Africa where they grow a large proportion of the world’s cocoa.
That’s why, STOP THE TRAFFIK are campaigning for the global chocolate companies, as well as New Zealand’s largest
retailers and chocolate makers to use their influence for positive change. We want to ensure the chocolate they’re
producing and we’re enjoying is contributing to a sustainable industry that doesn’t rely on exploitation, harm and
violence towards children.
This easter, help make a difference by purchasing Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certified easter eggs. To learn
what our Kiwi retailers and chocolate makers are doing to address human trafficking and for more information on how you
can be involved head to www.traffikfreechocolate.co.nz
ENDS
About the campaign:
This Easter, STOP THE TRAFFIK are running an awareness campaign, to highlight the prevalence of human trafficking in
cocoa supply. The campaign will feature information for Kiwis about human trafficking (specifically in cocoa
production), as well as what our largest Kiwi chocolate makers and retailers are doing to address this issue and what
consumers can do to help make change.
Our ethos is one of collaboration and support. We seek to develop relationships with retailers and chocolate makers by
offering our expertise and support in the area of human traffiking within supply chain. Similarly, we encourage
consumers to get in contact with their favourite chocolate makers and supermarkets to share their interest in purchasing
traffik free chocolate, also to vote with their dollar by purchasing certified chocolate easter products.
The campaign will run from the first week of March through to Easter and will feature a landing page website for
consumers that will share the information mentioned above. As well as resources for families to learn together and
lesson plans and activities for primary, intermediate and secondary schools.
About STOP THE TRAFFIK:
Since 2001, the issues of child labour, worst forms of child labour and human trafficking and slavery like practices
involving children in cocoa growing and harvesting in West Africa has been well documented.
STOP THE TRAFFIK has been campaigning the six largest chocolate companies in the world and iconic Australian brands
since 2007, asking them to take steps to ensure their chocolate products are “traffik-free” and to communicate this to
customers at point of sale. This easter, Kiwi consumers are joining the movement by asking local chocolate makers and
retailers how they are seeking to address human trafficking in their cocoa supply chains. STOP THE TRAFFIK aim to create
awareness of the ongoing exploitation of adults and children working on cocoa farms.
Although progress on addressing these issues has been slow, we are making progress. The major chocolate companies all
have programs seeking to address the issues. You can read more in STOP THE TRAFFIK’s ‘Matter of Taste’ report. https://stopthetraffik.com.au/chocolate/
We ask retailers to make a public commitment to work with their suppliers to provide customers with certified chocolate
options. In particular that they set targets to 100% certify own branded cocoa based products and that they set targets
with brand owners to supply them with certified products. Further to this, we encourage consumers to vote with their
dollar by purchasing Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certified chocolate easter eggs and to join with us as we
ask Kiwi chocolate makers and retailers to do their part in addressing the issue of human trafficking and child labour
in cocoa supply.