By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone – April 8, 2026: The Parliament of Sierra Leone has joined the ECOWAS Joint Committees in a consultative meeting focused on safeguarding children’s rights, particularly those in street situations, and addressing child exploitation across the region.
The session, held at the Foreign Affairs Academy Hall in Freetown, was convened under the theme “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region.”
Calls for Stronger Child Protection
In her welcoming remarks, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, Head of Sierra Leone’s Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, underscored the importance of protecting children’s social and economic rights. She highlighted Sierra Leone’s legislative progress on child protection and called for stronger parliamentary oversight across the sub-region.
Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, outlined reforms and new laws aimed at improving child welfare and service delivery. Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, presented data on children living in street situations and urged deeper regional cooperation to ensure effective implementation of child protection laws.
Regional and National Commitments
Foreign Affairs Minister Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba condemned violence against women and children globally, while commending Sierra Leone’s legislative efforts and President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership in promoting gender equality and child protection.
Representing the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Guy Marius Sagna praised Sierra Leone for hosting the engagements and emphasized the importance of sharing best practices among member states.
Delivering the keynote address, Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas Esq, reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to safeguarding children’s rights through legislation, oversight, and advocacy. He called for stronger laws within ECOWAS and presented recommendations to enhance child protection mechanisms.
Moving Forward
The session was moderated by Mohamed Jalloh, Director of the Centre for Strategy and Parliamentary Studies (CSPS), who stressed the importance of regional collaboration in protecting children’s rights.
The consultative meeting concluded with a call for decisive and proactive parliamentary action to address child exploitation and ensure the welfare of children across the ECOWAS region.