On Tuesday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reiterated its commitment to promoting and protecting child rights.

Olatunde Olayemi, programme officer of Trafficking in Persons, ECOWAS, said this on the sidelines of a retreat held by ECOWAS at Ikeja.

He said the retreat would enhance and strengthen child rights across all platforms in ECOWAS.

“The purpose of this retreat is to look at the child right, brainstorm on it and strengthen the child right across the entire ECOWAS institution. Child poverty, the impact of climate change, natural disasters, election violence, economic downturn and natural disasters have grievous effects on the child, so we want to ensure that children are properly protected,” stated Mr Olayemi.

The official added, “We will come up with strategic plans to ensure that all developmental actions taken by ECOWAS serve the children in various positive ways. Child Rights is extremely important, so would ensure that they are rightly promoted and protected like they ought to be.”

Mr Olayemi noted that the retreat would address the gaps and challenges in the mission’s implementation of the Child Rights Agenda.

He said the mission would collaborate with other agencies to ensure that child rights are implemented in all sectors of the country. 

(NAN)