At ECOWAS Parliament Committee Meeting… Speaker Thomas Calls For Coordinated Action Against Child Exploitation
By JKM
The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has urged the ECOWAS Parliament to develop a coordinated regional legislative model aimed at tackling child vulnerability across West Africa.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, during the Joint Committee Sitting of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament at the Foreign Service Academy, Speaker Thomas emphasized the urgent need for a unified framework to address the root causes of child exploitation and neglect.
Delivering his keynote address on the theme “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region,” the Speaker called for strengthened cross-border mechanisms to combat child trafficking, the establishment of a regional monitoring and evaluation system, and increased investment in education, vocational training, and family support structures.
He stressed that legislative frameworks across the region must be robust, harmonised with international conventions, and responsive to emerging forms of exploitation.
“Laws must not only exist, but they must be enforceable and enforced,” he stated.
Speaker Thomas also underscored the importance of effective oversight and accountability, urging legislators to rigorously monitor the implementation of child protection policies. He further called for thorough scrutiny of budgetary allocations for social welfare, education, and rehabilitation programmes to ensure they reflect the scale of the challenge.
Highlighting the broader implications, he noted that child vulnerability is deeply connected to issues of human rights, sustainable development, public security, and social justice.
“Every child forced into the streets is a silent indictment of our governance systems—and a call to action,” he affirmed.
The Speaker pointed out that child exploitation often transcends national borders, with trafficking networks operating across jurisdictions, making regional cooperation essential.
Describing the situation of street children as dire, he lamented that many are denied access to education, healthcare, family care, and protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. He urged the ECOWAS Parliament to act decisively, stressing its moral responsibility to safeguard vulnerable children.
“On behalf of the Parliament and people of Sierra Leone, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting our children and ensuring they have the opportunity to 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,” Speaker Thomas concluded.
