Tom Harkin: “I want to briefly highlight key provisions that together make this framework agreement a real breakthrough: First, it…”

“I want to briefly highlight key provisions that together make this framework agreement a real breakthrough: First, it requires the industry to publicly acknowledge the use of forced child labor and to assume primary responsibility, including financial responsibility, for ending these intolerable practices. This is only fair and right. Second, it requires the industry to partner and bargain every step of the way with the other major stakeholders cocoa producers, organized labor, non-governmental organizations, consumer groups and governments among them--who have an interest and expertise in achieving the abolition of the worst forms of child labor in this sector. Last December 1, all of these stakeholders hammered out and signed a mutually-acceptable joint statement that recognizes and affirms their shared commitment to act together with urgency to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa and chocolate business. Furthermore, by next May, a binding, public memorandum of cooperation must be agreed among all of the major stakeholders that establishes a joint program of research, information exchange, and action to enforce internationally-recognized standards to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and forced labor from this sector of agriculture and food processing worldwide.”