ECOWAS Parliament Orders Urgent Action to Rescue Street Children and End Exploitation Across West Africa

The ECOWAS Parliament has passed a landmark resolution demanding that member states take immediate action to protect street children and end child exploitation across the region. The resolution, adopted on May 14, 2026, during the First Ordinary Session in Abuja, urges governments to remove vulnerable children from the streets and provide them with essential services.

Lawmakers described street children as among the most neglected groups in society, facing severe human rights abuses. The decision follows recommendations from a joint committee meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in April.

Under the new directive, member states must develop national strategies with clear timelines and dedicated budgets, in line with international child rights standards. These plans must ensure street children have access to free education, healthcare, birth registration, and child-friendly justice systems.

The Parliament also called on the ECOWAS Commission to create a unified regional framework and expand the Child Rights Information Management System for better data-driven policymaking. Lawmakers stressed the need to address root causes of homelessness, such as poverty, displacement, and family breakdown, through community support and public awareness campaigns.

Given the rising threat of cross-border child trafficking, the Parliament urged stronger cooperation among member states, including safe repatriation protocols and information-sharing systems. It also called for increased training for law enforcement and child protection agencies.

The session was held under the theme: “Parliamentary Approach to the Protection of Street Children and the Fight Against the Exploitation of Children in the ECOWAS Region.”