By Ebi Kesiena
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a resolution urging member states to take urgent measures to protect street children, combat child exploitation, and remove vulnerable minors from the streets across West Africa.
The resolution was adopted during the Parliament’s ongoing 2026 First Ordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, yesterday.
Deliberations at the plenary centred on the theme, “Parliamentary Approach to the Protection of Street Children and the Fight Against the Exploitation of Children in the ECOWAS Region.”
The lawmakers’ decision followed recommendations presented by the Parliament’s Joint Committee after a delocalised meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in April.
The Parliament also mandated its Speaker to transmit the resolution and the Joint Committee’s report to the President of the ECOWAS Commission for onward submission to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
The Joint Committee comprises members on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment, People Living with Disabilities, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, as well as Trade, Customs and Free Movement.
The parliamentarians observed that street children remain among the most vulnerable and neglected groups in society, often exposed to severe forms of abuse and exploitation.
According to the resolution, member states are expected to adopt and implement comprehensive national strategies on street children, backed by clear targets, timelines, and dedicated budgetary provisions in line with international child rights standards.
The lawmakers further called on governments within the sub-region to strengthen enforcement of child protection laws and guarantee street children access to free and inclusive education, healthcare services, birth registration, identity documents, and child-friendly justice systems.
The Parliament also urged the ECOWAS Commission to establish a harmonised regional framework on street children to guide coordinated responses among member states.
It further recommended the expansion of the ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System to support data-driven policymaking, accountability, and stronger collaboration with governments, civil society organisations, and development partners.
The lawmakers stressed the need to address the root causes driving children to the streets, including poverty, displacement, family breakdown, and inadequate social protection systems, especially among single-parent households.
They also advocated preventive measures such as community child protection structures, parental support programmes, psychosocial services, and public awareness campaigns aimed at tackling discrimination and social exclusion.
Recognising the cross-border dimension of child trafficking and exploitation, the Parliament called for stronger cooperation among member states through referral systems, safe repatriation procedures, and information-sharing mechanisms to better protect vulnerable children on the move.
The resolution further emphasised the need to strengthen institutional capacity in child protection, law enforcement, and child-friendly justice administration across the region.
