Children on the Move in ECOWAS: A Structural Violence Approach to Child Migration and Protection Frameworks
Joha Issaka Braimah1, Sylvester Kyei-Gyamfi2
1Migration and Rights Lab, Accra, Ghana.
Summary
Children migrating in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) face increasing risks due to structural factors. Policy changes are needed to integrate these children and expand social protection programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- International Relations
Background:
- Children on the move in the ECOWAS region are influenced by historical mobility patterns, poverty, and service inadequacies.
- Structural Violence Theory framework highlights how economic, social, and governance policies drive child migration and risks.
- Inequalities and structural disadvantages are key determinants of children's migration and vulnerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the structural factors contributing to child migration in ECOWAS.
- To analyze the risks and vulnerabilities faced by children on the move.
- To identify policy implications for child protection and mobility frameworks.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Inclusion of literature from 1966-2025 concerning child migration, trafficking, displacement, and protection within ECOWAS.
- Qualitative analysis of 56 selected sources from an initial pool of 987.
Main Results:
- Increasing numbers of children are migrating independently and across borders within ECOWAS.
- Economic hardship, limited education, conflict, and family dynamics are key drivers of child migration.
- Children on the move face heightened risks of exploitation, trafficking, and social exclusion, with ineffective implementation of protection frameworks.
Conclusions:
- Child migration in ECOWAS is a consequence of structural issues, not isolated events.
- Policy recommendations include integrating children on the move into ECOWAS mobility frameworks and expanding social protection.
- Frontline healthcare providers can play a crucial role in identifying risks and facilitating child protection services.
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