The ECOWAS Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday calling for immediate action to remove street children from public spaces and protect them from exploitation across the sub-region. The decision was taken during the 2026 First Ordinary Session in Abuja. Lawmakers directed member states to implement comprehensive domestic strategies with clear timelines and dedicated budgets in line with international child rights standards. The resolution emphasized access to free education, healthcare, birth registration, identity documents, and child-friendly justice systems for street children. It also urged stronger enforcement of existing child protection laws. The parliament mandated its speaker to forward the resolution and a joint committee report to the ECOWAS Commission president for submission to the Council of Ministers. The joint committee, which includes members focused on social affairs, gender, legal affairs, trade, and human rights, had held a meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in April before making its recommendations. The resolution called for the ECOWAS Commission to create a harmonised regional framework to guide national efforts and improve coordination. It also recommended expanding the Child Rights Information Management System to support data-driven policies. Collaboration with governments, civil society organisations, and development partners was highlighted as critical. Addressing root causes, the resolution urged expansion of social protection for vulnerable families, especially single-parent households affected by poverty and displacement. Preventive measures such as community child protection, parental support, psychosocial services, and public awareness campaigns were recommended. Cross-border challenges like child trafficking require regional referral systems, safe repatriation, and information sharing, the parliament stated. Capacity-building for national child protection institutions and law enforcement was also stressed. The session's theme was "Parliamentary Approach to the Protection of Street Children and the Fight Against the Exploitation of Children in the ECOWAS Region."
The ECOWAS Parliament demands member states act against child streetism while offering no timeline or enforcement mechanism for the resolution. A regional framework is called for, yet countries like Nigeria already fail to implement existing child protection laws. If current systems cannot protect registered children in homes, how will unaccounted street children benefit? The resolution may become another paper policy without binding commitments.
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