The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has launched a regional citizen engagement campaign in The Gambia and Senegal to combat irregular migration, human trafficking and modern slavery across West Africa.
The week-long initiative, themed “One Journey, Many Risks. Ask First, Move Safely,” is being implemented under the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament. Activities will take place in Banjul, The Gambia, from July 6 to 10, 2026, and in Dakar, Senegal, from July 13 to 17.
The programme was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Office of the Chief Communication Officer of the ECOWAS Parliament.
According to the statement, the campaign is designed to facilitate direct engagement between Members of the ECOWAS Parliament and young people, returnees, community leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders affected by irregular migration.
The Parliament noted that irregular migration remains one of the most pressing socio-economic and human security challenges facing West Africa, with thousands of young people undertaking perilous journeys in search of better economic opportunities.
It attributed the trend to persistent unemployment, poverty, insecurity and limited access to decent livelihoods, factors that continue to push many youths onto unsafe land and sea migration routes. These journeys often expose migrants to human trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation, debt bondage and other forms of modern slavery.
The statement identified The Gambia and Senegal as among the ECOWAS member states significantly affected as countries of origin, transit and return for migrants.
It said the campaign aims to raise awareness among young people and vulnerable communities about the dangers of irregular migration while providing lawmakers with firsthand insights into its root causes and consequences.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen dialogue between parliamentarians and citizens and generate practical recommendations to improve national and regional policies on migration prevention, victim protection and the reintegration of returnees.
Activities in The Gambia will begin with a courtesy visit to the country’s Minister of Interior, followed by a stakeholder briefing involving the ECOWAS Resident Representative, the Gambian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP).
The programme will include community town hall meetings in Bakau, Brikama and Barra, where residents, returnees and survivors of irregular migration will share their experiences and interact with Members of Parliament.
As part of efforts to engage young people, the Parliament will also organise a community football event tagged “Football for Awareness,” using the campaign slogan to promote safe and informed migration.
The Gambian leg of the campaign will conclude on July 10 with a debriefing session to review observations and formulate recommendations for future interventions.
In Senegal, the campaign will focus on public sensitisation and multi-stakeholder dialogue involving youth groups, students, community organisations, returnees and public institutions across Dakar and neighbouring communities.
The statement added that activities in both countries will include open-air town hall meetings, interactive discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and radio, television and community media engagements to broaden public participation and encourage collective action against irregular migration and modern slavery.
The ECOWAS Parliament said the initiative underscores its commitment to promoting safe migration, protecting vulnerable populations and strengthening regional cooperation to address one of West Africa’s most persistent humanitarian and development challenges.
