News:
April 7, 2026
The ECOWAS Parliament will open a five-day Joint Committee Meeting in Freetown on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, bringing together four key parliamentary committees to address the urgent challenges of children in street situations and child exploitation across West Africa.
The meeting, which runs through April 12 under the theme “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region,” aims to strengthen legislative oversight and push member states to honor regional child protection commitments.
The gathering directly responds to the ECOWAS Child Policy and Strategic Plan of Action (2019–2030) and the ECOWAS Gender Strategy. Despite these frameworks, economic insecurity, rapid urbanization, displacement, and recurring humanitarian crises have driven rising numbers of children living or working on the streets—exposing them to exploitation, hazardous labor, violence, and substance abuse while limiting access to essential services.
Porous borders and high intra-regional mobility further complicate protection efforts. Inconsistent legal standards, data systems, and enforcement capacity create dangerous gaps, especially for children who cross borders or work in the informal economy. Lawmakers stress the need for harmonized legislative approaches, stronger parliamentary oversight, and enhanced inter-parliamentary collaboration.
Organizers chose Freetown following Sierra Leone’s adoption of the revised Child Rights Act (2025), a landmark step aligning national law with international and African child protection standards. The country’s ongoing reforms in institutional coordination, social welfare, data systems, and community-based protection make it a reference point for peer learning. Parliamentary committee members will review Sierra Leone’s strategies as a potential model for broader ECOWAS implementation.
Over five days, participants will engage in regional policy briefings from the ECOWAS Commission, a national case study presentation from Sierra Leone’s government, a public hearing with civil society and child protection practitioners, and field visits to locations including the Cotton Tree area and the Don Bosco facility. All field engagements will follow strict safeguarding regulations and child protection principles on consent, confidentiality, and dignity.
The Joint Committee is expected to adopt conclusions and recommendations focused on strengthening legislative frameworks, closing gaps in shelter and rehabilitation services, enhancing parliamentary oversight, and promoting legislative harmonization across member states. The outcomes will be presented to the Plenary of the next Ordinary Session of Parliament for adoption and onward transmission to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
Ghanamps.com