International Cocoa Initiative
Encyclopedia
The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) was created in 2002 as a result of a groundswell of opinion urging the chocolate industry to ensure child
and forced labour were not used in the production of their products. An international protocol (known as the Harkin/Engel or Cocoa Protocol
) was signed in Washington, D.C. in September 2001, by representatives of the cocoa industry and governments. Establishing the ICI foundation was one of the steps required by the parties to the protocol, and was duly achieved in July 2002.
The ICI is an independent foundation governed by Articles 80ff of the Swiss Civil Code. The ICI is governed by a foundation board that comprises members of labour unions, civil society, and the cocoa
and chocolate
industry. Its work is implemented and supervised by a secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ICI is primarily funded by contributions from cocoa industry board members. However the decisions on programme direction and emphasis are made by the board as a whole. The board is chaired by a co-presidency that is shared between industry and civil society representatives.
Current members of the ICI are: Barry Callebaut, Cadbury Schweppes
, Education International, European Cocoa Association, Ferrero
, Free the Slaves
, global march against child labor
, Hershey Foods, International Confectionery Association, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations (IUF), Kraft Foods
, Mars Incorporated, Nestlé
, US National Consumers League, WAO Afrique and Toms.
By working locally with cocoa-growing communities, ICI works to change the way cocoa is grown. Since its establishment, the ICI has collaborated with a broad range of stakeholders – from farmers to consumers groups – to identify the most efficient and effective methods to end abusive labour practices in cocoa growing.
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
and forced labour were not used in the production of their products. An international protocol (known as the Harkin/Engel or Cocoa Protocol
Cocoa Protocol
The Harkin-Engel Protocol, commonly referred to as the Cocoa Protocol, is an international agreement aimed at ending child labour in the production of cocoa. It was signed in September 2001...
) was signed in Washington, D.C. in September 2001, by representatives of the cocoa industry and governments. Establishing the ICI foundation was one of the steps required by the parties to the protocol, and was duly achieved in July 2002.
The ICI is an independent foundation governed by Articles 80ff of the Swiss Civil Code. The ICI is governed by a foundation board that comprises members of labour unions, civil society, and the cocoa
Cocoa solids
Cocoa solids are the low-fat component of chocolate. When sold as an end product, it may also be called cocoa powder, cocoa, and cacao....
and chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
industry. Its work is implemented and supervised by a secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ICI is primarily funded by contributions from cocoa industry board members. However the decisions on programme direction and emphasis are made by the board as a whole. The board is chaired by a co-presidency that is shared between industry and civil society representatives.
Current members of the ICI are: Barry Callebaut, Cadbury Schweppes
Cadbury Schweppes
Cadbury is a confectionery company owned by Kraft Foods and is the industry's second-largest globally after Mars, Incorporated. Headquartered in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom, the company operates in more than 50 countries worldwide....
, Education International, European Cocoa Association, Ferrero
Ferrero
Ferrero is a surname of Italian and Spanish origin that means "smith," the person who works with iron, and may refer to:Persons:*Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora , Italian general and statesman*Benita Ferrero-Waldner Ferrero is a surname of Italian (from Piedmont) and Spanish origin that means "smith,"...
, Free the Slaves
Free the Slaves
Free the Slaves is an international non-governmental organization and lobby group, established to campaign against the modern practice of slavery around the world. Formed in 2001, it is the largest anti-slavery organization in the U.S. It is the sister-organization of Anti-Slavery International...
, global march against child labor
Global march against child labor
The "Global march against child labor" came about in 1998 due to the overwhelming response of the need to end child labor. It was a grassroot movement that motivated many individuals and organizations to come together and fight against child labor and not an annual march.The main goals of this...
, Hershey Foods, International Confectionery Association, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations (IUF), Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
, Mars Incorporated, Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
, US National Consumers League, WAO Afrique and Toms.
By working locally with cocoa-growing communities, ICI works to change the way cocoa is grown. Since its establishment, the ICI has collaborated with a broad range of stakeholders – from farmers to consumers groups – to identify the most efficient and effective methods to end abusive labour practices in cocoa growing.