By Florence Joshua
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has convened a five-day Joint Committee Meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, bringing together the different stakeholders and committees to develop a critical framework to support child protection in the sub region.
A statement from the ECOWAS said the Freetown meeting features regional policy briefings, national case studies, public stakeholder hearings, and field visits to locations where children live or receive support.
The committees include Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment & Persons with Disabilities; Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Trade, Customs and Free Movement; and Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
Held under the theme “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region,” the meeting underscores the “urgent need for West African states to prioritize child protection and the safeguarding of vulnerable girls and boys.”
Across the region, economic insecurity, rapid urbanisation, displacement, and recurring humanitarian crises have left thousands of children exposed to street life, exploitation, trafficking, hazardous labor, and sexual abuse.
Girls are particularly vulnerable, facing compounded risks of gender-based violence and limited access to education, healthcare, and protection services. Inconsistent laws and weak enforcement across borders further worsen protection gaps, leaving many children without basic safeguards.
The statement said all activities at the meeting follow strict child protection protocols, ensuring the dignity and safety of children involved.
Sierra Leone’s recent adoption of the revised Child Rights Act (2025) serves as a model, demonstrating how strong legislation, institutional coordination, and community-based programs can protect children’s rights effectively.
Key outcomes of the meeting will focus on strengthening and harmonizing legislative frameworks for children in street situations, closing critical gaps in shelter, rehabilitation, education reintegration, family reunification, and data collection, enhancing parliamentary oversight and accountability in child protection institutions, and promoting cross-border collaboration to ensure seamless safeguarding responses. The initiative also emphasizes the link between child protection and women’s empowerment, recognizing that safeguarding girls from abuse is critical to breaking cycles of vulnerability and promoting social resilience.
Participants include Members of Parliament, officials from the ECOWAS Commission, government ministries, civil society organizations, child protection practitioners, and development partners. Recommendations from the meeting will be submitted to the next Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for formal adoption, translating regional commitments into tangible protections for children and women across West Africa.
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