The Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has called on the ECOWAS Parliament to develop a comprehensive regional legislative model on child protection to address the growing challenges facing vulnerable children across West Africa.
Delivering a keynote address on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Joint Committee Sitting of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, held at the Foreign Service Academy, the Speaker emphasized the unique role of the regional body in championing a coordinated framework to tackle the root causes of child vulnerability.
The session was held under the theme: “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region.”
Speaker Thomas urged the ECOWAS Parliament to prioritize legislative strengthening by ensuring that national laws are robust, harmonized with international conventions, and responsive to emerging forms of exploitation.
“Laws must not only exist, but they must be enforceable and enforced,” he stated.
He further called for stronger cross-border collaboration to combat child trafficking and exploitation, alongside the establishment of a regional monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress. He also advocated increased investment in education, vocational training, and family support systems as preventive measures.
Highlighting the importance of oversight, the Speaker stressed the need for parliaments to rigorously monitor the implementation of child protection policies. He noted that budgetary allocations for social welfare, education, and rehabilitation programmes must be carefully scrutinized to match the scale of the challenge.
“As legislators and representatives of our people, we must recognize that the plight of these children is not just an isolated welfare issue. It is intrinsically linked to broader concerns of human rights, sustainable development, public security, and social justice,” he said.
Speaker Thomas underscored that child exploitation often transcends national borders, with trafficking networks operating across jurisdictions, thereby requiring a unified regional response.
He expressed concern over the dire conditions faced by children living on the streets, noting that many are denied access to education, healthcare, family care, and protection from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. He urged the ECOWAS Parliament to act decisively, emphasizing its moral responsibility to protect vulnerable children.
“On behalf of the Parliament and people of Sierra Leone, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting our children and ensuring they could grow into productive citizens. Together, let us build a region where no child is left to survive on the streets, and where every child is afforded dignity, protection, and opportunity,” he concluded.