The documentary reiterates that enacting laws/protocols/legislation doesn't mean much as there are multiple ways by which the corporations counter them. The mere fact that the ‘Harkin–Engel Protocol’ exists acknowledges the presence of Child labour, slavery and trafficking in the Chocolate Industry.
Most of the corporate personnel Miki Mistrati interviews are either unaware or deflect the questions raised, Ali Lakiss, CEO and owner of SAF-CACAO, bluntly rejects even the notion of Child labour, slavery and trafficking in Ivory Coast and Tohe Adam Malick, Chief Secretary - Department of Labour Ivory Coast, says, “Child labour is not a problem, we know what is happening and to deal with it so it’s no longer a problem” and goes on to say that, ‘the children are on Vacation’.
On the other hand, the people on the ground level are well aware and try to curb it even Henri Blémin, Head of Interpol Ivory Coast, wasn’t surprised when asked. As shown in the video it’s not a secret the way the nexus operates and it’s fairly easy to get in touch with the right people. A trafficker who is interviewed takes it as any other job and has qualms in doing it. He also states that, ‘anyone at the border who doesn’t know about the trafficking is lying’ and admits that the plantation owners pay them to transport the children.
The children being trafficked are either misled or do it because they think it will help their families. When Mariam Mario, a 12 year old, is rescued she more concerned about her parents anger for returning without money than what might have happened to her.
Frank Hagemann, Director ILO, after viewing the documentary agreed that even with the awareness not enough progress is being made to tackle child labour, slavery and trafficking and the fact that the corporations don’t even want to discuss these issues is deplorable. When Miki resorted to the use of a large screen to show the video at Nestlé’s headquarters in Switzerland the police were called to subdue the matter at once.
Child labour won’t go away easily as it is primarily driven by survival instincts for self and/or family and till such time that there is no one below the poverty line it won’t happen but child trafficking and slavery needs not be stopped as the children are subjected to all kinds of abuse which harms them at both a physical as well as a psychological level.
After watching the documentary, it’s clear that further progress cannot be made in tackling child labour, slavery and trafficking until the consumers are directly involved to indirectly motivate the corporations into taking action that will have the desired effect.