Côte d’Ivoire and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to fighting child trafficking, exploitation and child labor during the opening of the second annual Child Protection Compact (CPC) Dialogue, chaired by First Lady Dominique Ouattara in Abidjan on Tuesday.
The two-day meeting brings together representatives of the Ivorian government, the U.S. Embassy, civil society organizations and child protection experts to assess progress made since the bilateral partnership was signed in December 2022 and to outline the next phase of cooperation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dominique Ouattara welcomed the progress achieved through the partnership while stressing that significant challenges remain.
The First Lady highlighted the continued threat of cross-border child trafficking, the economic exploitation of minors and the need to strengthen access to education, which she described as a key tool in preventing child labor.
The Child Protection Compact, signed by Côte d’Ivoire and the United States on December 7, 2022, is one of the country's main international cooperation frameworks aimed at combating child trafficking, exploitation and labor. The initiative seeks to strengthen prevention measures, improve victim protection and support the prosecution of those responsible for crimes against children.
The dialogue comes as Côte d’Ivoire implements its 2025–2029 National Action Plan, launched last year to reinforce efforts to prevent child exploitation, protect victims and dismantle criminal networks involved in trafficking and child labor.
Despite progress made in recent years, Ivorian authorities and international partners acknowledge that child trafficking and labor remain significant challenges, particularly in rural areas where children are more vulnerable to exploitation.
Through the annual dialogue, both countries aim to deepen their cooperation and accelerate efforts to ensure greater protection for children, promote access to education and create safer environments that support children's development and well-being.