By Sulaiman Jalloh
FREETOWN, April 8, 2026, Sierra Leone’s Parliament has joined key committees of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in a consultative meeting aimed at strengthening the protection of children’s rights across the region.
The engagement, held on Wednesday at the Foreign Affairs Academy Hall in Freetown, brought together the ECOWAS Joint Committees on Social Affairs, Gender, Women’s Empowerment and Persons with Disabilities; Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Trade, Customs and Free Movement; and Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism.
The meeting was convened under the theme: “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region.”
In her welcome address, the Head of Sierra Leone’s Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, expressed appreciation for hosting the session in Freetown.
She underscored the importance of protecting children across the sub-region and ensuring the promotion of their social and economic rights. She also called for strengthened parliamentary oversight and highlighted several child protection laws enacted by Sierra Leone’s Parliament.
Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, in her goodwill message, welcomed the ECOWAS delegation and outlined her ministry’s efforts in advancing child welfare through legislative reforms and improved social service delivery systems.
Also addressing the gathering, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, presented data on children living in street situations. She noted ongoing collaborations with international partners and called for stronger regional cooperation and effective implementation of child protection laws.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, emphasized the legal frameworks supporting child protection and condemned violence against women and children globally. He acknowledged existing challenges and highlighted Parliament’s legislative efforts to safeguard vulnerable groups. He also commended President Julius Maada Bio for his 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 meeting and encouraged member states to share best practices in addressing child welfare challenges across the region.
Delivering the keynote address, the Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, described the meeting’s theme as timely and relevant to ongoing challenges affecting children. He emphasized Parliament’s critical role in safeguarding children’s rights through legislation, oversight, and advocacy.
He called for stronger legal frameworks within the ECOWAS sub-region and outlined recommendations aimed at improving child protection systems. The Speaker reaffirmed his commitment to advancing policies that support children and urged stakeholders to adopt decisive and proactive measures.
