Sierra Leone bans child marriage

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Sierra Leone has officially banned child marriage with President Julius Maada Bio signing into law a Bill to end the practice that remains widespread.

The health ministry estimates that a third of girls are married off before they turn 18, accounting for the country’s high number of maternal deaths, which are among the highest in the world.

Under the law, any man who marries a girl under the age of 18 could face at least 15 years in prison and a fine of $4 000.

Parents or those attending such marriage ceremonies could also face punishment under the new law.

At the #WeAreEqual campaign launch today at the Freetown Conference Centre, I signed the Prohibiting Child Marriage Bill into law.

Fatima @FirstLadyBio has always championed women’s and girls’ rights issues with a very special passion. Together, we want to build an empowered… pic.twitter.com/hv6IDWR76k

— President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) July 2, 2024