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The ECOWAS Parliament is convening a Joint Committee Meeting in Freetown from April 8 to 12, 2026, to address child protection challenges across West Africa.
The meeting, with theme “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region,” will bring together key committees, including Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment; Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Trade, Customs and Free Movement; and Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
According to organisers, the meeting aligns with ECOWAS’ mandate to strengthen legislative oversight and ensure effective implementation of regional child protection frameworks such as the ECOWAS Child Policy and Strategic Plan of Action (2019–2030) and the ECOWAS Gender Strategy.
The Parliament noted that rising economic hardship, rapid urbanisation, displacement, and recurring humanitarian crises have contributed to an increasing number of children living and working on the streets across the region.
These children face heightened risks, including exploitation, hazardous labour, violence, and limited access to essential services.
Despite existing legal frameworks in many member states, gaps in implementation, inadequate resources, and weak coordination continue to hinder effective child protection systems, the Parliament said.
It further highlighted that porous borders and high intra-regional mobility have created additional risks, particularly for children crossing borders or engaged in informal economic activities, underscoring the need for harmonised legislation and stronger inter-parliamentary collaboration.
The choice of Sierra Leone as host country was described as strategic, following its adoption of the revised Child Rights Act (2025), which aligns national laws with international and African child protection standards.
Participants are expected to review Sierra Leone’s child protection systems, including institutional coordination, social welfare delivery, and community-based mechanisms, as a model for broader regional application.
During the five-day session, lawmakers and stakeholders will engage in regional policy briefings by the ECOWAS Commission, presentations by Sierra Leonean government agencies, and a public hearing involving civil society groups, development partners, and child protection practitioners.
The programme will also include field visits to key locations in Freetown, such as the Cotton Tree area and the Don Bosco Fambul facility, where children in street situations receive support services.
Organisers emphasized that all field activities will adhere strictly to national safeguarding laws and international child protection standards, including consent, confidentiality, and respect for dignity.
At the end of the meeting, the Joint Committee is expected to adopt recommendations aimed at strengthening legal frameworks, improving rehabilitation and reintegration systems, enhancing parliamentary oversight, and promoting coordinated regional responses to child protection challenges.
The outcomes will be presented at the next Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for adoption and subsequent transmission to the Council of Ministers.
Participants at the meeting will include representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, officials of the Sierra Leonean government, development partners, civil society organisations, and subject-matter experts in child protection.