Food manufacturer Mondelez International will collaborate with several partners in the fight against child labour with cocoa manufacturers. One of its moves was to call on Embode, a human rights advice firm, to investigate.
Fight the causes
On Mondelez International’s behalf, Embode investigated the situation in Ghana and the Ivory Coast and it seems Embode is happy with Mondelez’ overall approach in its Cocoa Life program, intended to improve cocoa farmers’ way of life.
Advice firm Embode asks Mondelez to continue its efforts to guarantee the future wellbeing of children in these communities. It does give several recommendations, to reduce child labour even further. It asks Mondelez to support education even more and to collaborate more intensely with the communities, in order to safeguard the long-term results.
“Embode’s conclusions are very important to us and we will try to carry out their recommendations for our Cocoa Life program as fast as possible”, Cathy Pieters, Cocoa Life director, said. “We will work more closely with our partners and the governments to strengthen a child’s protection, to improve its access to education and to fight the causes of child labour, like poverty, in these communities in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.”
