Sierra Leone has officially banned child marriage, with President Julius Maada Bio signing a bill into law to end the practice that is widespread in the country. Around a third of girls in Sierra Leone are married before they turn 18, leading to increased maternal death rates due to the physical risks of pregnancy. The new legislation imposes penalties for those involved in child marriages, including a minimum of 15 years in prison and a fine for men who marry underage girls, as well as fines for parents or attendees at such ceremonies.
The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs praised the passage of the bill as a significant milestone that promotes human rights protections. West and Central Africa has the highest prevalence of child marriage globally, with nearly 60 million child brides in the region, according to UNICEF. Advocates hope that Sierra Leone’s new law will set an example for other countries to follow suit and revoke their laws permitting child marriage.
One former child bride in Sierra Leone, who was married off at 14 and now 21, supports the new law and is considering seeking an annulment through the court system. Human Rights Watch researcher Betty Kabari believes the legislation will help in breaking the cycle of early marriage and its devastating consequences. It is seen as a positive step towards protecting girls in Sierra Leone and promoting human rights in the region.
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