The Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas has on Wednesday, the 8th of April 2026, earmarked the unique position of the   ECOWAS Parliament to champion a coordinated regional framework that addresses the root causes of child vulnerability. The Rt. Hon. Speaker, therefore, called on the ECOWAS to develop a regional legislative model on child protection, strengthen cross-border mechanisms to combat child trafficking and exploitation, establish a regional monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress, and promote investment in education, vocational training, and family support systems.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker made this timely proposal, delivering his keynote address at the   Joint Committee Sitting of the Sixth Legislature of the  ECOWAS Parliament, held at the Foreign Service Academy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on the theme “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region.
Through Legislative Strengthening, Speaker Thomas urged the ECOWAS Parliament to ensure that their legal frameworks are robust, harmonised with international conventions, and responsive to emerging forms of exploitation. He said, “Laws must not only exist, but they must be enforceable and enforced”.

The Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliament called for effective oversight and accountability mechanisms by rigorously overseeing the implementation of child protection policies. He also advocated for budgetary allocations for social welfare, education, and rehabilitation programs to be scrutinised to ensure they meet the scale of the challenge.

“As legislators and representatives of our people, we must recognise that the plight of these children is not just an isolated welfare issue. It is intrinsically linked to broader questions 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 Rt. Hon. Speaker acknowledged that Regional Cooperation is a critical approach that must be advanced. He noted that child exploitation often transcends national borders, trafficking networks, for instance, and operate across jurisdictions.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker continued that the situation of children in the streets remains dire, with many facing severe challenges and vulnerabilities. He voiced that children  are denied their rights to education, health, family and protection against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. He called on the ECOWAS Parliament that they have the moral responsibility to act now and address the exploitation of vulnerable children in the street.

“On behalf of the Parliament and people of Sierra Leone, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to this cause of protecting our children and ensuring that they have the opportunity to grow up to be productive. Together, let us build a region where no child is left to survive on the streets, and where every child is afforded the dignity, protection, and opportunity they deserve”, the Rt. Hon. Speaker Concluded.

Credit – Parliamentary and Public relations Department, Parliament of Sierra Leone.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 13th April 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)