January 2024

Samuel Hall, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine  have formulated Ethical Guidelines for Research on Child Labour, setting a new benchmark for safeguarding children's rights in research; funded by the United States Department of Labor.

The guidelines underscore the urgency of ethical considerations in researching child labour, emphasising a "do no harm" principle, informed consent, and the importance of respecting children's rights and dignity. 

Designed as a practical toolkit, the guidelines offer researchers clear methodologies for ethical decision-making, ensuring that the welfare of child participants is always prioritised.

Offering an ‘Ethical Checklist’ for all phases of the research; they serve as a compass guiding researchers through the ethical complexities of data collection, analysis, and dissemination, ensuring that the welfare of child participants is at the forefront.

These guidelines also offer a comprehensive toolkit for researchers, featuring decision trees -  to navigate consent processes in situations where obtaining consent may be complex. They also include strategies for anonymising data to protect children's identities while still allowing for impactful research outcomes.

These guidelines  aim to inspire a shift towards research methodologies that not only generate valuable insights but also protect and empower child participants. Read through these by clicking on the link and scroll through a summary of our ethical checklist during various phases of research. 

Read full report here.

Read More