The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a resolution urging member states to eliminate street children from public spaces and strengthen child protection systems across the subregion, lawmakers said Thursday in Abuja.
Lawmakers passed the resolution during the 2026 First Ordinary Session of the parliament, calling for urgent national action plans, stronger enforcement of child rights laws and expanded access to education, healthcare and identity registration for vulnerable children.
The parliament also directed its speaker to transmit the resolution and committee report to the ECOWAS Commission for onward submission to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
Lawmakers said street children remain among the most neglected and vulnerable groups in West Africa, often exposed to exploitation, trafficking and abuse.
They urged governments to adopt coordinated strategies with clear timelines and dedicated funding.
The resolution calls on member states to strengthen social protection for vulnerable families, improve child-friendly justice systems and expand community-based prevention mechanisms.
It also urges regional cooperation to tackle cross-border trafficking, including safe repatriation protocols and information sharing.
The ECOWAS Commission was further tasked with developing a harmonised regional framework and expanding its Child Rights Information Management System to improve data-driven policymaking.
The decision followed recommendations from a joint parliamentary committee meeting held in April in Freetown, Sierra Leone, involving committees on social affairs, gender, human rights, trade and legal affairs.
The session also came amid broader ECOWAS reforms aimed at strengthening regional integration and addressing governance and security challenges across West Africa.
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