A week-long visit by a high-level Moroccan delegation, including members of the Moroccan Children’s Parliament, has officially concluded in Liberia. Hosted by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit marks a significant step toward strengthening cross-border cooperation in promoting and protecting children’s rights.
The Moroccan delegation was led by Ghizlane Benjellom, President of the National Observatory for Children’s Rights, and included young representatives committed to child advocacy. Their visit was aimed at fostering collaboration with Liberia’s National Children Representative Forum and creating shared platforms for elevating children’s voices in policymaking.
Deputy Minister for Children and Social Protection, Hon. Garmai S. Tokpah, and Director Victoria Zaway welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the importance of youth-to-youth exchange in shaping progressive child welfare policies.
During the official engagement, Minister Gbeme Horace Kollie praised the longstanding diplomatic ties between Liberia and Morocco. She also reaffirmed Liberia’s dedication to improving conditions for its young population, noting the urgent issues the country faces including the staggering number of over 366,600 children living on the streets, as outlined in a UNICEF-sponsored survey.
“This partnership gives us hope,” Minister Kollie said. “We must continue to share best practices, build strong child protection frameworks, and empower our children to be active participants in shaping their future.”
The Speakers of both Children’s Parliaments expressed their excitement over this new level of bilateral collaboration, emphasizing the importance of such engagements in empowering young voices and strengthening child rights advocacy.
The collaboration is expected to spark new initiatives, including joint advocacy campaigns, knowledge exchange programs, and policy alignment to address common challenges affecting children in both countries.
As the Moroccan delegation concludes its visit, both nations have expressed a firm commitment to building a long-term alliance focused on safeguarding children’s rights and ensuring their voices are prioritized at every level of governance.
