The ECOWAS Parliament is convening a Joint Committee Meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, aimed at strengthening child protection efforts across West Africa. The meeting, which runs from 8 to 12 April, 2026, brings together committees on social affairs, gender, women empowerment, and persons with disabilities, among others, to review regional child protection instruments and national strategies.
“The meeting is being convened under the theme ‘Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region’,” said a statement from the Communication Division of ECOWAS Parliament. This theme is consistent with the institution’s mandate of legislative oversight to promote Member States’ effective implementation of ECOWAS child protection commitments.
Sierra Leone’s revised Child Rights Act (2025) is being presented as a model for broader application across ECOWAS Member States. “The choice of Freetown as the host city is deliberate, given Sierra Leone’s progress in aligning national legislation with international and African child protection standards,” the statement noted.
Members of Parliament will engage in a participatory and field-oriented programme, including regional policy briefings, national case studies, stakeholder public hearings, and field visits to locations in Freetown where children in street situations congregate or receive support services.
“The outcomes are expected to support a more harmonised and effective regional approach to protecting the most vulnerable children across West Africa,” said the statement. The meeting is expected to adopt conclusions and recommendations to guide parliamentary action across ECOWAS Member States, focusing on strengthening legislative frameworks, closing protection gaps, and enhancing parliamentary oversight.