The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission, has convened a high-level virtual engagement to advance collective action to protect children across West Africa.
The annual meeting through the Commission’s Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, served as a strategic platform to review progress in implementing the ECOWAS Strategic Framework for Strengthening National Child Protection Systems.
It is also to Prevent and Respond to Violence, Abuse and Exploitation Against Children in West Africa, adopted by Heads of State and Government in 2017.
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In her welcome address, the ECOWAS Commission programme Officer for Child Rights, Child Protection and Child Labour, Madam Ali Essossinam, commended participants for their continued engagement in the periodic review process.
Madam Essossinam emphasised that the meeting was not a platform for judgment, but rather an opportunity to assess progress, identify challenges, and refine strategies.
Online Tool
Highlighting ECOWAS’ monitoring and evaluation mandate, she underscored the development of an online tool to support implementation.
The Programme Officer for Child Rights, Child Protection and Child Labour, provided an update on the progress made since 2022 toward operationalising the ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System, calling on Member States to contribute actively to improving the digital platform.
Delivering the opening remarks, Representing the current Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority and President of Sierra Leone, Mr. Daniel Gbow commended the Commission for organising the meeting and called for strengthened collective responsibility among Member States.
Child Protection Challenges
Mr. Gbow highlighted critical child protection challenges in the region, including trafficking, street-connected children, children in contact with the law, stigma, sexual abuse and exploitation, and conflict-related vulnerabilities.
“Effective child protection requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach, integrating systems and institutions to enhance service delivery, there is need to call for stronger regional collaboration in line with international and regional child rights frameworks,” he stressed.
Throughout the meeting, Member States expressed strong appreciation for the ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System, recognising its value as a strategic tool for data collection, information sharing, and evidence-based decision-making to improve child welfare across the region.
User Manual
Recognisng the usefulness of the ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System platform, Member States recommended the development of a user manual and the provision of regular training for national focal points to ensure its effective utilization.
They also encouraged the replication of the system at national and subnational levels to strengthen data collection and information sharing.”
The member States further called for increased domestic resource allocation, calling member States to dedicate at least 3% of national budgets to child protection interventions in line with the ECOWAS Child Policy adopted in June 2019 and encouraged the ECOWAS Commission to continue mobilizing resources to support and sustain the ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System mechanism.
Additionally, while acknowledging ongoing efforts in service delivery to vulnerable children, member states emphasised the need to further improve these services and enhance the documentation and sharing of best practices across the region.
The meeting concluded with a renewed called for sustained action on the five regional priorities “ending violence against children, eliminating child marriage, combating child labour, promoting universal birth registration, and protecting children on the move,”
Participants also emphasised the importance of strengthened collaboration, increased resource mobilisation, and reinforced stakeholder engagement to accelerate the implementation of child rights commitments across West Africa.
The sessions brought together representatives from 12 ECOWAS Member States, Benin Republic, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, demonstrating strong regional commitment to protecting children’s rights.