The Place of Child Labour in the Regional Integration Discourse within ECOWAS: An Analysis of the Existing Legal Instruments and Responses

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to examine the lingering issue of the violation of child rights that occurs through the practice of child labour within the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) and the ongoing discourse on regional integration.

Design methodology/approach – A textual analysis is conducted and a deconstruction of the argument that has been put forward to sustain the existence of practical actions at regional and sub-regional levels in providing an adequate legal response to the problem of child rights violation through child labour within ECOWAS.

Findings – There is evidence of inequity in legal responses to validate the discourse on regional integration in that enduring human rights violations in general and child rights violations, in particular, cannot consolidate regional integration perspectives.

Originality/Values – The study reveals that Regional integration is a holistic endeavour. It does not rest on it must necessarily encompass the question of human rights promotion and protection. Unfortunately, the increasing literature on regional integration has often omitted human rights as a pillar of successful regional integration.