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Article

24 Sep 2014

Author:
UNICEF

India: UNICEF partners with industry to tackle abuse & trafficking of children in tea communities

"Ground-breaking new tea partnership to tackle abuse and trafficking in Indian tea communities",

A ground-breaking new partnership to improve opportunities for tens of thousands of children in communities growing some of the world’s favourite tea and reduce their vulnerability to trafficking and abuse, are announced today by UNICEF and the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP). The 3-year programme supported and funded by IDH the Sustainable Trade Initiative; ETP members, Tesco, OTG (Meßmer), Tata Global Beverages (Tetley, Tata Tea), and Taylors of Harrogate (Yorkshire Tea); and Typhoo, will initially work with 350 communities on over 100 estates in three districts in the Indian state of Assam, and has the potential to serve as a model to protect children across other rural communities. UK supermarket Tesco has played a leading role in bringing together the coalition of organisations behind the programme as part of its ongoing commitment to improve conditions across its supply chains...UNICEF's Executive Director...said..."[These children] are vulnerable to a range of threats including trafficking, exploitative and bonded labour, and physical and sexual abuse...This programme is backed by retailers, world-famous tea brands and growers, and shows the tea industry’s determination to play its part in solving these problems."