In the News

International Trade Chocolate Manufacturers Group Intervenes In Suit on Côte d'Ivoire's Forced Child Labor

Daily Report for Executives No 28 page A15
02/11/2005

By Rossella Brevetti

The Court of International Trade has granted the Chocolate Manufacturers Association request to intervene as a defendant in a case brought by the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) against the government, seeking to compel enforcement of laws prohibiting imports of goods made with forced child labor, ILRF announced Feb. 9 (International Labor Rights Fund v. United States, Ct. Int.'l Trade, No. 04-005432/1/05).

Lawmaker Shuns Valentine Candy, Cites Slavery Fear

ABC News
02/10/2005

Feb. 10, 2005 - With Valentine's Day approaching, it's fine to be a slave to chocolate, but some U.S. lawmakers want to make sure their chocolate wasn't produced by slaves.

Sen. Tom Harkin, who in 2001 was instrumental in developing an industry protocol aimed at eliminating forced child labor in processing cocoa beans in West Africa, said on Thursday that that agreement was near collapse.

Tainted love: The dirty truth behind America's traditional valentines

Boulder Weekly
02/10/2005

by Grace Hood

It's the third-largest retail holiday of the year, according to the National Retail Foundation (NRF). One in five men plan to purchase jewelry, while the average consumer is expected to spend $97 for the occasion, reports the NRF 2005 Valentine's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

Love it or leave it, Valentine's Day is upon us. And while some of us have the time for a handmade valentine or two, most of us will hit the stores to find our oh-so-unique-way to say "I love you."

Fiscalía llama a juicio a tres miembros de la FAC

Caracol
12/19/2004

Bogotá: Por la muerte de 17 campesinos en la localidad de Santo Domingo, Arauca, la Fiscalía llamó a juicio a tres miembros de la Fuerza aérea Colombiana sindicados de los delitos de homicidio culposo y lesiones personales culposas.

La medida cobija al capitán de la Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (FAC), César Romero Pradilla; teniente Johan Jiménez Valencia y el técnico Héctor Mario Hernández Acosta.

America's other war -- Colombia

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
11/21/2004

Dan Kovalik finds human-rights abuses perpetrated in the name of protecting oil pipelines

Tomorrow President Bush will be traveling to Colombia to meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in the resort town of Cartagena. This is President Bush's first official foreign state visit after the elections, showing the high importance of Colombia to the administration.

Leading Human Rights Watchdog to Sue U.S. Customs Service for Not Enforcing Laws Against Child Labor

10/04/2004



Also Demand That Five U.S. Companies Importing Cocoa from Africa

Act to Stop Child Slavery on Suppliers’ Farms

October 4, 2004



CONTACT: Ira Arlook, New Economy Communications (202) 721-0111

On Thursday morning, October 28, The International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) will file a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) in New York City against the U.S. Customs Service for failure to enforce its own laws against the importation of goods made by forced child labor.

Leading Human Rights Watchdog to Sue U.S. Customs Service for Not Enforcing Laws Against Child Labor

Also Demand That Five U.S. Companies Importing Cocoa from Africa Act to Stop Child Slavery on Suppliers’ Farms
10/04/2004

CONTACT: Ira Arlook, New Economy Communications (202) 721-0111

On Thursday morning, October 28, The International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) will file a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) in New York City against the U.S. Customs Service for failure to enforce its own laws against the importation of goods made by forced child labor.

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