By: Mamajah Jalloh
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, to facilitate the establishment of a Parliamentary Caucus for Children ahead of the celebration of World Children’s Day on 20 November 2026.
The appeal was made on Friday, 30 October 2026, during a courtesy call by a high-level UNICEF delegation to the Speaker at Parliament, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between UNICEF and Parliament to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in Sierra Leone.
Leading the delegation, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, Mariko Kagoshima, commended the Speaker for his leadership in facilitating the enactment of the landmark Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. She called for sustained collaboration between UNICEF and Parliament to advance policies and initiatives that safeguard children’s rights.
The Acting Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Nkandu Chilombo, highlighted the strategic importance of the Parliamentary Budget Office and disclosed that UNICEF would hold a half-day working session with the Office next week, involving selected Members of Parliament.
She explained that the session would focus on strengthening the Budget Office’s capacity in budget debates and analysis, particularly concerning social sector allocations, as the 2027 National Budget is expected to be presented to Parliament soon. She also expressed appreciation to the Speaker and the Clerk of Parliament for facilitating the engagement.
UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist, Kelvin Mutambirwa, said the organization was seeking deeper engagement with the Office of the Speaker and the Parliamentary Budget Office on budget processes to ensure that allocations intended for children translate into tangible benefits for them.
He added that the proposed working session would also examine Parliament’s role in budget implementation, monitoring and oversight to ensure that resources allocated to children’s welfare are properly utilized.
The Chief of Communications at UNICEF, Suzanne Wooster, recalled that the establishment of a Parliamentary Caucus for Children was one of the key calls to action during last year’s World Children’s Day celebration.
She therefore urged the Speaker to facilitate the establishment of the caucus before this year’s celebration on 20 November 2026. She also appealed for child rights and protection provisions to be incorporated into the proposed Data Protection Act currently before Parliament for consideration.
In his response, Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas welcomed the UNICEF delegation and reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of children across Sierra Leone.
He assured the delegation of Parliament’s readiness to collaborate with UNICEF and encouraged the organization to approach his office whenever support was needed on issues affecting children.
The Speaker further reiterated his personal commitment to child protection, recalling his role in supporting the enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. He pledged his continued support for initiatives aimed at advancing children’s rights, protection and wellbeing in Sierra Leone.