Dr. Bolanle Adetoun, representative of ECOWAS Commission, presented on the child protection activities of the ECOWAS and the link with Agenda2040. She recalled that ECOWAS has a child policy adopted in 2008/9 and a strategic plan of action that has expired. The policy covers, among other things, survival, development, child participation and protection. It was stated that ECOWAS is currently focusing on child protection and has the ECOWAS strategic framework for strengthening national child protection systems. This was approved in 2017 by the Heads of States and Governments and it is aimed at protecting children from violence, exploitation, neglect and abuse, which is in line with aspiration 7 of Agenda2040. Dr. Bolanle mentioned other related documents including the protocol relating to free movement of persons, residents and establishments; ECOWAS ECASS Convention to combat trafficking in persons 2006; ECOWAS Gender Policy; ECOWAS Labor and employment policy and ECOWAS humanitarian policy. She further explained the specific link between ECOWAS documents and activities with aspirations of Agenda2040. As such she noted that aspiration 2 (An effective child-friendly national legislative, policy and institutional framework is in place in all member States) is in tandem with ECOWAS child policy and framework for child protection system. The framework under commitment 1 requires compliance with international and regional legal frameworks and translation of these documents in local languages. Commitment 2 also talks about strengthening of institutional frameworks. Aspiration 3 (Every child’s birth and other vital statistics are registered) is linked with the child protection framework, which includes among its five priorities, civil registration and vital statistics. Aspiration 4 (Every child survives and has a healthy childhood.) is linked with Commitment 6, which talks about service delivery that ensures the health and survival of children. Service delivery here also incorporates education. Aspiration 5 (Every child grows up well-nourished and with access to the basic necessities of life.) is also linked with Commitment 6, under adequate basic social services of quality. Aspiration 8 (Children benefit from a child-sensitive criminal justice system.) is linked with one section of the child policy entitled children in conflict with the law. Aspiration 9 (Every child is free from the impact of armed conflicts and other disasters or emergency situations.) is linked with the section of the child policy which talks about children in conflict situations. The department of peace and security of ECOWAS has a manual on children in conflict situation and they sensitize personnel in the peace-keeping system. With regards to aspiration 10 (African children’s views matter.) the child policy has a section on child participation, which depends on the evolving capacity of the child. It was noted that while Agenda2040 is overall in line with all the efforts being taken by ECOWAS to ensure child protection, ECOWAS is currently

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