According to the Anti-Slavery Society, "Although there is no longer any state which legally recognizes, or which will enforce, a claim by a person to a right of property over another, the abolition of slavery does not mean that it ceased to exist. There are millions of people throughout the world - mainly children - in conditions of virtual slavery, as well as in various forms of servitude which are in many respects similar to slavery." The organization further notes that slavery, particularly child slavery, has been on the rise since 2003. It is a profoundly troubling notion, that in the twenty first century children are being used as slaves is untenable. That is why Congressman Eliot Engel strives to address childhood slavery in its several manifestations.

Child Slavery and Cocoa

In 2001 Congressman Engel read reports that child slavery was being used to harvest cocoa in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two largest producers of cocoa in the world.

That year Rep. Engel offered an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill which required that all chocolate products sold in the United States would have a label that stated if it was slave free chocolate. The U.S. House of Representatives on June 28th, 2001 overwhelmingly passed the Engel amendment (291-115). It was headed to certain success in the Senate with the help of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) at that point the chocolate industry agreed to an historic agreement - now called the Harkin-Engel Protocol.

The key to the success of the protocol are the specific deadlines and actions to which the industry has agreed to comply with to combat child slavery and certify that all cocoa that comes out of that region is child slavery free. "The Harkin-Engel Protocol is one of my proudest legislative achievements in Congress. The protocol goes a long way toward ending the devastating effects of child slavery in Africa," said Rep. Engel. "This new foundation will help ensure that all Americans who eat chocolate can do so knowing that no children were forced into slave labor to make their candy bar or treat." Rep. Engel said, "Anti-child slavery groups have been fighting for more than 150 years to get the private sector to address the issues that the Harkin-Engel Protocol works to eliminate. It is a model upon which other industries can build. I am following the progress of these efforts closely to ensure that advancements are being made to end child slavery in cocoa production once and for all."

Child Slavery and the Sex Trade

Congressman Eliot Engel has long been an ardent supporter of efforts to halt the commercial trafficking of human beings. The United States Justice Department estimates that at least 14,500 people are "trafficked" into the country annually. But, because victims are usually hesitant to report the abuses they've endured and because the trade is veiled in secrecy, the actual number may be significantly higher. Regardless, any statistic such as this is shameful and it is crucial that something be done to combat this brutal and inhumane practice.

Congressman Engel has supported and drafted legislation that would fund the law enforcement agencies that identify slavery and then proceed to counteract it. In addition, the congressman supported the PROTECT Act, which allows law enforcement officials to utilize the full range of legal tools to thwart sexual acts against children. This particular law enabled law enforcement to use wiretapping and other forms of surveillance to stop crimes that use the internet among other technologies as a tool to lure children. Other laws the congressman has supported ensure that there be no statute of limitations for crimes involving the abduction, physical or sexual abuse of children.

Child Slavery and Militaries

Children have become soldiers in more than twenty countries in the world where they directly partake in warfare. Children, such as this, endure horrific violence and miss their entire childhood. Approximately 200,000 to 300,000 children are currently serving as soldiers both in government military forces and in rebel or terrorist groups involved in today's armed conflicts. Child soldiers wage modern warfare using AK-47s and M-16s often on the front lines of war zones where they serve as spies, human mine detectorsm messengers and carry out suicide missions.

Children are emotionally and physically vulnerable and as a result may easily be intimidated into becoming obedient soldiers. Recruiters may give the children a false sense of independence while simultaneously coercing them to take tremendously addictive drugs. Other children are abducted or taken by force and are simply faced with the ultimatum, "fight or die". Others, still, become soldiers to avoid poverty or to avenge the death of a close family member who was killed in a conflict.

Congressman Engel has confronted this issue head-on with legislation that condemns the use of child soldiers as a legitimate tool in any armed struggle. Mr. Engel has drafted resolutions against the use of child soldiers in the Palestinian territories and in Africa and continues to wage the war to help protect children from all forms of exploitation.

Back to issue list