Jane Salihu
Parliamentarians from across West Africa have called for stronger legal frameworks and coordinated regional action to safeguard children living in street situations and combat rising cases of child exploitation in the region.
The call was made during the opening of a Joint Committee meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament currently holding in Freetown, Sierra Leone, under the theme “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region.”
Speaking at the opening session, Head of Sierra Leone’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, described the meeting as a timely opportunity for member states to reflect on their collective responsibility toward protecting vulnerable children.
According to her, children living and working on the streets remain among the most vulnerable members of society, often exposed to exploitation, violence, hazardous labour, substance abuse and limited access to essential social services.
“They face high exposure to exploitation, violence, labour, substance abuse and limited access to essential social services,” Sesay said, stressing the urgent need for coordinated regional efforts to address the challenge.
Also addressing the gathering, Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, said the growing number of children living in street situations across the region reflects deeper social and governance challenges.
He noted that the issue goes beyond welfare concerns and represents a serious human rights challenge that demands stronger legislative responses and effective enforcement mechanisms.
“The challenges children face are not merely an isolated welfare issue but one that is directly linked to human rights abuse and a silent indictment of our governance system,” Thomas stated.
He added that while many countries have enacted laws to protect children, the real task lies in ensuring that such laws are effectively implemented and enforced.
Thomas pointed to Sierra Leone’s Child Rights Act 2025 as a significant step taken by the country to strengthen child protection and align national legislation with international standards.
“We must ensure our legal frameworks are robust, harmonised with international conventions and responsive to emerging threats of exploitation. Laws must not only exist but be enforced,” he said.
The Speaker further called for a change in societal attitudes toward children living on the streets, urging governments and communities to prioritise their protection, rehabilitation and reintegration into society rather than stigmatising them.
The meeting brings together lawmakers from ECOWAS member states, government officials, civil society organisations and development partners to deliberate on legal and policy measures aimed at strengthening child protection systems across the region.
Participants are also expected to examine existing laws and share experiences on strategies that can help prevent the exploitation of children in street situations through stronger regional collaboration and implementation frameworks.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings