The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Thursday adopted a resolution urging member states to take urgent and coordinated action to protect street children and end child exploitation in the region.
Consequently, the regional Parliament also urged the ECOWAS Commission to develop a harmonised regional framework on street children to guide member states and ensure a coordinated response across the subregion.
The Commission was also urged to strengthen regional coordination through collaboration with governments, civil society organisations, and development partners, while expanding the ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System to support data-driven policymaking and accountability.
The resolution was adopted on May 14 during the Parliament’s First Ordinary Session of 2026 in Abuja, drawing from recommendations made at a delocalised meeting of the Joint Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment and People with Disabilities; Legal Affairs and Human Rights; and Trade, Customs and Free Movement, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from April 7 to 11.
The lawmakers examined the theme, “Parliamentary Approach to the Protection of Street Children and the Fight Against the Exploitation of Children in the ECOWAS Region,” and warned that street children remain among the most neglected groups in society despite being exposed to some of the gravest human rights abuses.
According to the resolution, member states are to adopt and implement comprehensive national strategies for street children, with clear objectives, timelines, and dedicated budgetary allocations in line with international child rights standards.
It also urged governments to strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws and ensure that children living on the streets have access to free and inclusive education, healthcare services, mental health support, birth registration, identity documents, and child-friendly justice systems.
The lawmakers also emphasised on the need to tackle the root causes of the crisis by expanding social protection programmes for vulnerable families, particularly single-parent households affected by poverty, displacement, and family breakdown.
The resolution further recommended preventive measures such as community child protection mechanisms, parental support services, psychosocial assistance, and public awareness campaigns to combat discrimination and social exclusion.
Recognising the cross-border nature of child trafficking and exploitation, the Parliament called for referral systems, safe repatriation protocols, and information-sharing mechanisms among member states to better protect children on the move.
The resolution also requested increased capacity-building support for national institutions in child protection, child-friendly justice, and law enforcement.
Under the resolution, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament is mandated to transmit the document and the report of the joint committee to the President of the ECOWAS Commission for onward submission to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.
