Search for Justice (SFJ) developed the Child Labour Monitoring Framework for Better Cotton Implementing Partners in Pakistan. The framework was authored by Qindeel Shujaat, Executive Director of Obun2, and Zoha Faiz, Research Data Analyst, Obun2 and is designed to enhance the capacity of Better Cotton implementing partners in Pakistan to identify, report, and respond to child labour risks within cotton-producing communities in Rahim Yar Khan.

The purpose of the framework is to establish a consistent, practical, and rights-based system for monitoring child labour in alignment with national laws and international standards, including ILO Conventions and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is tailored to the context of cotton cultivation in Pakistan and reflects both the operational realities and ethical commitments of Better Cotton partners.

The key objectives of the framework include building a shared understanding of child labour definitions, risk factors, and response mechanisms; standardising data collection and reporting tools; and ensuring timely intervention through community-level monitoring, case referral, and remedial support. It also provides indicators to track progress and measure the effectiveness of child labour prevention strategies over time.

Structured around six core components—governance and roles, capacity building, risk identification, monitoring and verification, remediation, and reporting—the framework empowers field-level staff and partners of Better Cotton to act as front-line defenders of children’s rights. It emphasises collaboration with local child protection systems and outlines clear procedures for handling suspected or confirmed child labour cases with sensitivity and accountability.