What is the chocolate campaign?

The chocolate industry has a well-documented link to slavery. Despite efforts to promote fair trade and ethical sourcin.g, reports of child labor, forced labor, and other forms of modern-day slavery persist in the cocoa sector.

Aims and Objectives of the Chocolate Campaign

The main aims of the chocolate campaign are:

1. Raise Awareness: The campaign seeks to raise consumer awareness about the harsh realities and injustices of child and forced labor in the chocolate industry.

2. Drive for Structural Changes: By shining a light on the systemic issues contributing to slavery, the campaign aims to encourage corporations, governments, and regulatory bodies to adopt meaningful changes in procurement and production practices.

3. Promote Fair Trade and Sustainable Alternatives: The chocolate campaign actively promotes the adoption of fair trade practices and sustainable cocoa farming models as a way to address the root causes of slavery and provide better livelihoods for cocoa farmers.

Focus Areas and Activities

1. Investigative Journalism and Reporting: The campaign involves thorough investigations and documentation of labor abuses in the chocolate supply chain. This information is disseminated through media outlets and public forums to engage the public and hold responsible parties accountable.

2. Lobbying and Advocacy: Campaign participants engage in advocacy campaigns, targeting chocolate corporations and governments to address the issue of modern-day slavery and promote fair trade policies.

3. Collaboration with NGOs: The chocolate campaign often collaborates with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the area of human rights and labor rights to strengthen the impact of their collective efforts.

4. Raising Public Support: Public engagement is a key component of the campaign, achieved through social media campaigns, online petitions, and public events to mobilize consumers and pressure chocolate companies and governments to take action.

5. Promote Ethical Consumption: The campaign educates consumers about the issue and encourages them to make informed choices when buying chocolate products. It promotes ethically-produced chocolate brands that prioritize fair trade, sustainability, and transparency in their supply chains.

Progress and Impact

The chocolate campaign has contributed to increased public awareness and scrutiny of labor practices in the chocolate industry, leading to several victories for the cause:

- Increased Demand for Fair Trade: Consumer demand for fair trade and ethically-produced chocolate has substantially grown, encouraging chocolate corporations to adopt more responsible practices.

- Transparency and Traceability: Major chocolate companies have made commitments to improve supply chain transparency and traceability to ensure the eradication of exploitative practices.

- Government Regulations: Some governments have implemented regulations aimed at preventing the use of forced and child labor in cocoa production.

- Collaboration and Partnerships: The chocolate campaign has fostered collaboration between human rights groups, NGOs, and other stakeholders to collectively address this global issue.

However, the chocolate campaign acknowledges that further progress is necessary to eradicate modern-day slavery from the chocolate supply chain and that continued vigilance and collective efforts are crucial to achieving sustained and positive change.