The certifications of two multinational tea-making giants operating in Kenya have been suspended by multinational governance group, Rainforest Alliance, after a series of investigations revealed sexual harassment and gender-based violence on certified tea estates in the East African country.
The Rainforest Alliance, an international NGO that monitors the sustainability of agriculture, forestry and tourism, said on Thursday that the results of the audits showed that more than 70 women were sexually abused while working in the fields of the two multinational companies in Kenya.
"The outcome of the investigative audits, which were carried out by the Rainforest Alliance, confirmed the presence of multiple non-conformities of social and management criteria of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard for both James Finlay Kenya and Ekaterra Tea Kenya," the non-profit organization said in a statement. "Based on these results, we have taken the decision to suspend the certifications of both tea estates in accordance with the Rainforest Alliance’s Certification and Auditing Rules, V1.2."
According to the organization, the audits included an analysis of grievance mechanisms, assessment and response systems and risk management plans, as well as stakeholder consultations.
The Rainforest Alliance said that it had notified the tea estates owned by the Scottish company James Finlay Kenya and the Dutch company Ekaterra Tea Kenya of the action taken against them, in accordance with the rules of its program.
"Automatic decertification as a response to non-conformities has often been shown to be ineffective, driving serious issues, including cases of sexual harassment and gender-based violence underground, and thereby making them harder to detect," the Rainforest Alliance said. "For this reason, the Rainforest Alliance has shifted to a human rights due diligence approach which focuses on working with operations to build capacity, remedy violations, and incentivize systematic, sustainable progress on key human rights issues."
The organization noted that the suspension, which went into effect on Tuesday, May 9, can last up to three months, according to its Certification and Audit Rules. To have the penalty lifted, the two companies must demonstrate that the nonconformities have been resolved, or that significant progress has been made in addressing the root causes.
An independent Rainforest Alliance auditor will conduct an on-site follow-up audit at the certificate holder's expense to verify progress. If the ensuing probe's results are positive, the producer's certificate will be reinstated.
However, if the follow-up audit does not show sufficient progress, the producer's certificate may be revoked for up to three years, depending on the severity of the non-compliance.