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Africa, Cocoa and Kids

(Seated left to right): Signing the Declaration of Joint Action to Support Implementation of the Harkin-Engel Protocol are Labor Minister Emile Guirieoulou of Cote D’Ivoire, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, Labor Minister E.T. Mensah of Ghana, Director of the Washington, D.C. office of the International Labor Organization Nancy Donaldson, Congressman Eliot Engel of New York, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and President of the National Confectioners Association Lawrence Graham.

September 13, 2010 — As part of a Framework of Action to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa industry, Secretary Solis announced a $10 million grant to fund a new project in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. She was joined by Senator Tom Harkin, Representative Eliot Engel, Labor Minister E.T. Mensah of Ghana, Labor Minister Emile Guirieoulou of Cote d'Ivoire, and representatives of the international chocolate and cocoa industry in making renewed commitments of resources to address the problem. "Child labor perpetuates a cycle of poverty that prevents families and nations from reaching their full potential. This new Framework of Action will focus on tackling poverty so parents do not have to rely on their children's labor," said Solis. In addition, the governments of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire committed resources, personnel and policy support for the initiative and the international chocolate and cocoa industry pledged $7 million.

 
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