ECOWAS validates its regional action plan on child labour and forced labour, achieving, in partnership with the ILO and WANEP, its IYECL 2021 action pledge.

Following a thorough review exercise, the Economic Community of West Africa States Commission has validated the second cycle of the Regional Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour in West Africa (2021-2030).

Press release | 28 November 2021
Strengthening institutional capacity, socio cultural reforms, resource mobilization, database creation, social protection, promotion of decent work, and a synchronization of National Action Plans with the Regional Action Plan, as requirements for the region’s accelerated action to achieve SDG Target 8.7
This activity took place in Lagos, Nigeria from 11 -13 October 2021, with Child Labour focal point representing ECOWAS Member States.

Participants in attendance includes: Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of The Gambia, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Guinea Bissau, Republic of Liberia, Republic of Niger, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Senegal, Republic of Sierra Leone, Togolese Republic, The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP).

At the opening of the Experts Validation Workshop, the Director of the ILO Abuja Country Office for Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, and liaison office for Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), Vanessa Phala, identified the elimination of child labour, especially its worst forms, as critical to the growth and development of the West Africa Region.

According to the Director, the global increase in the number of children trapped in child labour to an alarming 160 million – from 152 million in the last four years demands urgent and accelerated action by Africa through interventions like the Dutch Government funded ACCEL Africa Project which targets the elimination of child labour in the agriculture and artisanal gold mining supply chains, while promoting improved social protection, social security, social safety nets and economic growth throughout the continent.

The Director applauded the efforts of the ECOWAS Commission in the elimination of child labour and protection of children, noting that by organizing this validation meeting, ECOWAS has implemented its 2021 International Year of the Elimination of Child Labour Pledge.

“As we review and validate this regional strategy to prevent and respond to the exploitation of children in the workplace, it is important to observe the implications of our actions in achieving SDG Target 8.7. It is hoped that the implementation of this RAP will contribute to the achievements of SDG 8.7”, Phala added.

Speaking through a representative, the Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs; Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe reaffirmed the determination of ECOWAS Commission to combat child labour and forced labour which are evident in the development of the second cycle of the RAP.

Also commenting at the opening of the workshop, Peter Antwi – the Assistant Director and Focal Person on Child Labour at the Ghanaian Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, noted the importance of partnerships and the effective implementation of the RAP.

Following presentations by Ruth Ataguba, discussions led by ECOWAS and ILO, and a number of panel discussions and group consultations, the workshop participants observed a need for the following. Strengthening institutional capacity, socio cultural reforms, resource mobilization, database creation, social protection, promotion of decent work, and a synchronization of National Action Plans with the Regional Action Plan, as requirements for the region’s accelerated action to achieve SDG Target 8.7.

Consequently, the workshop recommended proper costing of activities in the RAP, increase in the budgets of National Governments targeting child labour and forced labour interventions, and an increase in the number of labour inspectors and social workers in Member States to regulate the informal sector.

Participants were informed that Nigeria has submitted itself to be peer reviewed and two countries (Sierra Leone and Liberia) will be conducting this assessment with the support of the ILO through the ACCEL Africa project.

Other key recommendations include designing a regional project to address the gaps in the protection of children within the legal working age and the institutional strengthening of the Ministries of Labour to ensure appropriate and effective labour inspection across the region.

At the close of the session, Dr. Alves D’Almada Jorge Principal Programme Officer of the ECOWAS Social Affairs Division and representative of the Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe at the workshop, reiterated the ECOWAS commitment to end child labour and highlighted the importance of the adoption of the RAP.