Great news! Child marriage has been officially banned in Sierra Leone!
Anyone involved in marrying a girl under 18 can be jailed for 15 years or fined $4,000, or both.
Sierra Leone has enacted a new law prohibiting child marriage, celebrated at an event in Freetown organized by First Lady Fatima Bio.
The First Ladies from Cape Verde and Namibia were among the guests who witnessed President Julius Maada Bio sign the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act into law.
University student Khadijatu Barrie welcomed the ban on child marriage but wished it had come earlier to save her younger sibling.
These were her words:
" I wish it had happened earlier. I could have at least saved my sister, friends, and other neighbours."
Sierra Leone has forced marriages due to its patriarchal society.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that there is a pressing issue of early marriage for girls in the country, with approximately one-third of them getting married before the age of 18. This is directly linked to the high rates of maternal mortality, which are some of the highest globally.
The new rules aim to hold accountable the groom, the parents or guardians of the child bride, and even those who attend the wedding.
Madam Fatima Bio has been a leading advocate in the fight against sexual abuse since her husband assumed the presidency six years ago. She envisioned the signing of the bill as a momentous occasion.
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