ECOWAS Parliament Moves To Protect Street Children
A Joint Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament is meeting in Freetown this week to develop unified legislative strategies for protecting children in street situations and ending child exploitation across West Africa.
The five-day session, running from April 8 to 12, 2026, brings together lawmakers from four key committees: Social Affairs and Gender; Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Trade and Free Movement; and Political Affairs, Peace, and Security.
Closing the “Protection Gap”
Despite the existence of the ECOWAS Child Policy (2019–2030), regional officials warned that economic insecurity and displacement continue to drive children into hazardous labor and street life. The Parliament highlighted that porous borders and inconsistent laws across Member States create “protection gaps” that exploiters often navigate with ease.
The meeting aims to address three primary challenges:
- Legislative Inconsistency: Harmonizing laws to ensure children are protected even when crossing borders.
- Weak Oversight: Strengthening how parliaments monitor child welfare institutions.
- Resource Constraints: Tackling the lack of data and funding for rehabilitation and family tracing.
Sierra Leone’s 2025 Act as Regional Blueprint
Freetown was selected to host the summit following Sierra Leone’s landmark adoption of the revised Child Rights Act in 2025. ECOWAS lawmakers will evaluate the country’s social welfare reforms and data collection systems as a potential model for the rest of the bloc.
Strategic Field Engagements
Moving beyond the conference room, the program includes:
- Public Hearings: Engaging civil society and child protection practitioners on the frontline of service delivery.
- “Parliament on the Move”: Field visits to high-traffic areas and support centers, including the Don Bosco facility, to observe rehabilitation efforts firsthand.
Expected Outcomes
The Joint Committee is tasked with drafting a final report focused on closing gaps in shelter, education, and reintegration. These recommendations will be submitted to the Plenary of the next Ordinary Session of Parliament and subsequently forwarded to the Council of Ministers for regional implementation.
The meeting includes high-level representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, Sierra Leonean government officials, and international development partners.
