Snapshot co-organized by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights and the International Cocoa Initiative
In the agricultural sector, child labor is widely recognized as a serious human rights issue, affecting various industries including cocoa production. Over the past decade, both voluntary and mandatory measures have been introduced in producer and consumer countries. On one hand, the private sector has made efforts to integrate human rights due diligence into global supply chains, employing systems such as the Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS), which has contributed to a significant reduction in child labor. On the other hand, governments in producer countries have implemented policies, action plans, and national systems to address and monitor child labor, while governments in consumer countries have mandated human rights due diligence (HRDD).
This session will review the progress, achievements, and ongoing challenges, examining how a combination of strategies has facilitated the effective implementation of HRDD across the agricultural sector and contributed to the reduction of child labor, with a particular focus on the cocoa industry.
Objectives of the session: - Reflect on the drivers and obstacles of a smart mix in the agricultural sector - Share good practices of smart mixes in the actions of States, businesses, and other stakeholders. - Discuss the impact of MSIs’ involvement in the smart mix of measures
