By CHIOMA UMEHA
The Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) on Thursday adopted a Strategic Framework for Strengthening National
Child Protection Systems to prevent and respond to violence, abuse and
exploitation against children in West Africa.
A statement signed by Geoffrey Njoku,
Communication Specialist, United Nations For Children Fund (UNICEF) which was
made available to INDEPENDENT said that
the decision which will
have positive implications for millions of children in West Africa was taken at
the ECOWAS First Ladies’ Forum in Niamey, from October 2 to 5 2017.
Based on the new framework Ministers responsible
for the care and protection of children across the 15 Member States of ECOWAS
agreed to take concrete measures to protect children from every form of
violence, abuse and exploitation on a wide range of issues.
In doing so they are committing to concrete
measures to protect children from the most damaging forms of abuse, by focusing
on five priority areas: sexual, physical and emotional violence against
children, including female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C); child
marriage; child labour; civil registration and vital statistics; and children
on the move.
The statement said: “Almost nine out of 10
children in West Africa experience violent discipline. While child marriage
exists throughout the continent, it is especially prevalent in West Africa,
which hosts six out of the ten countries with the highest rates of child
marriage in the world: about four in ten young women in West Africa were married
off as children.
“Less than one in two children in West Africa have
a birth certificate, which is their basic right to an identity. In addition,
the region is the theatre of complex migration routes where children are
especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.”
Led by the ECOWAS Commission, the Strategic
Framework was developed in collaboration with a Regional Child Protection
Working Group comprised of United Nations(UN) agencies and international
non-governmental organisations and networks.
“The Ministerial adoption marks a major step
forward for the protection of children in our region”, said ECOWAS’
Commissioner for Social Affairs, Dr. Fatimata Dia Sow, whose organisation
convened the gathering of experts and ministers from the 15 Member States.
“We stand together more strongly than ever to
ensure children are safe and protected. With the right framework, the right
actions, the right resources and the right positive changes in attitudes and
practices, we can ensure they have an opportunity to fully contribute to our
societies.”
The statement noted, “Strong child protection
systems can ensure that no child falls between the cracks.
” They provide the surest safeguards against child
abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of violence through a concerted
effort between formal and informal actors. The adoption of the Child Protection
Framework provides a joint platform for action on the protection priorities for
children.
“As programmes for children are strengthened at
national and community level, Ministerial commitments made during this week’s
meeting will be submitted for approval at the next ECOWAS Heads of State
meeting in December 2017,” it added.
“In West Africa, urgent action is needed to
address the acute vulnerabilities of children”, said Andy Brooks, the Chair of
the Regional Child Protection Working Group.
“We count on the commitment shown by the Ministers
being echoed and supported by the Heads of States and the First Ladies’ network
in West Africa. We will continue to support States to strengthen services on
the ground and the ECOWAS Commission in tracking accountability to commitments
made here today,”Brooks added.
