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The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has issued a stark warning of a burgeoning protection crisis, revealing that the country’s most vulnerable children are increasingly exposed to “severe and hidden” forms of exploitation.
The report, released after a nationwide monitoring exercise conducted from March 2 to March 20, 2026, highlights dire conditions in the Western Area, Kenema, Bo, Makeni, and Port Loko. During the two-week study, the Commission engaged 199 children, including 122 boys (61.3%) and 77 girls (38.7%).
While boys are more visible in street-based activities such as trading and begging, the HRCSL notes that girls face a “hidden” but often more perilous reality. According to the Commission, girls in street situations are at heightened risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, forced domestic labor, and severe physical and emotional violence.
Many children live in precarious conditions, seeking shelter in market stalls, verandas, open spaces, and abandoned buildings. The Commission also identified the rise of substance abuse, particularly the drug “Kush,” as a key factor contributing to school dropouts and prolonged street involvement.
The HRCSL attributes this crisis to a combination of poverty, family breakdown, neglect, and weak social protection systems, describing it as a “perfect storm” that pushes children onto the streets.
The report recommends immediate interventions, including:
Providing healthcare and safe housing for street children.
Strengthening social safety nets to prevent family breakdown.
Combating extreme poverty and substance abuse.
Coordinating government and NGO efforts to reintegrate children into education.
The Commission emphasizes that without sustained and coordinated action, both the future of these children and the social fabric of Sierra Leone remain at serious risk.
