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The Minister of Gender and Women’s Affairs, Isata Mahoi, has issued a strong and timely call for coordinated regional action to safeguard children across West Africa.
Speaking at the Delocalized Joint Committee Meeting covering Social Affairs, Gender & Women Empowerment; Legal Affairs & Human Rights; Trade, Customs & Free Movement; and Political Affairs, Peace, Security & APRM under ECOWAS, Mahoi emphasised that protecting children must remain a central priority for governments in the region.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, she noted that nearly 45 per cent of Sierra Leone’s population is under the age of 18, making child protection not only a national concern but a critical pillar for sustainable development across ECOWAS states.
Mahoi outlined Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts, which focus on prevention through public awareness and behavioural change, strengthened enforcement of child protection laws, and improved institutional coordination.
These initiatives are supported by recent legislative reforms, including the Employment Act, 2023; the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024; and the Child Rights Act, 2025-measures aimed at reinforcing the country’s legal framework for child safeguarding.
In a move to enhance innovation in the sector, the government, in collaboration with UNICEF, is developing a National Child Protection Dashboard. The platform is expected to improve case tracking, strengthen response mechanisms, and ensure accountability in addressing child welfare issues.
The minister stressed that tackling child exploitation-including trafficking, forced labour, and abuse-requires a unified regional response anchored in harmonised laws, stronger parliamentary oversight, and effective cross-border cooperation.
“Safeguarding children is not an act of charity; it is justice. It is both a moral imperative and a legal obligation,” Mahoi stated, urging increased community engagement and youth participation in shaping responsive policies.
She concluded with a call for collective action among ECOWAS member states to build a region where every child is safe, protected, and empowered to thrive.
