ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a resolution directing member states to take urgent action to protect street children, combat child exploitation and remove vulnerable children from the streets across the region. The resolution was adopted on Thursday, May 14, during the parliament’s 2026 First Ordinary Session held in Abuja.
Lawmakers also instructed the parliament’s speaker to forward the resolution and the accompanying joint committee report to the president of the ECOWAS Commission for onward submission to the chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
Members of parliament said street children remain among the most neglected and vulnerable groups in society, often exposed to severe human rights abuses and exploitation.
The decision followed recommendations made during a delocalised meeting of the parliament’s joint committee held in Freetown in April. The committees involved included those overseeing social affairs, gender, women empowerment, people with disabilities, legal affairs and human rights, as well as trade, customs and free movement.
“ECOWAS member states are to adopt and implement comprehensive domestic strategies for street children, with clear objectives, timelines, and dedicated budgetary allocations in line with international child rights standards,” the resolution stated.
“Member states are also urged to strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws and ensure that street children have access to free, inclusive education, healthcare, birth registration, identity documents, and child-friendly justice systems.”
The parliament further called on the ECOWAS Commission to create a harmonised regional framework on street children aimed at ensuring a coordinated response across West Africa.
“The ECOWAS Commission should expand its Child Rights Information Management System to support data-driven policymaking and accountability and strengthen regional coordination through collaboration with governments, civil society organisations, and development partners,” the resolution added.
Lawmakers stressed that governments must address the root causes driving children onto the streets, including poverty, displacement and family breakdown.
“The parliament recommends preventive measures, such as community child protection mechanisms, parental support services, psychosocial assistance, and public awareness campaigns to combat discrimination and social exclusion,” the resolution read. The parliament also highlighted the growing challenge of cross-border child trafficking and exploitation, calling for stronger cooperation among member states.
“Recognising the cross-border nature of child trafficking and exploitation, the parliament calls for referral systems, safe repatriation protocols, and information-sharing mechanisms among member states to better protect children on the move,” it stated.
The resolution additionally urged increased capacity-building support for national institutions involved in child protection, law enforcement and child-friendly justice systems. Thursday’s session focused on the theme: “Parliamentary Approach to the Protection of Street Children and the Fight Against the Exploitation of Children in the ECOWAS Region”.
