Sierra Leone has implemented a new bill that prohibits underage marriage

On Tuesday, President Julius Maada Bio signed a bill into law in Sierra Leone that officially prohibited child marriage, a practice that continues to be prevalent.

Advocates anticipate that the new legislation will enhance the protection of females in Sierra Leone, where approximately one-third of them are married before they reach the age of 18, thereby escalating the maternal mortality rate as a result of the physical hazards associated with pregnancy, as reported by the health ministry.

A man who marries a female under the age of 18 is subject to a minimum of 15 years in prison and a fine of approximately $4,000. This is the law.
Fines may also be imposed on parents or individuals who attend such marriage ceremonies.

The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs praised the bill’s passage as a “significant milestone” that not only safeguards females but also advances robust human rights protections.

According to the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF, West and Central Africa is home to nearly 60 million child brides and has the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world.

A 21-year-old Sierra Leonean former child bride, who requested anonymity, disclosed to Reuters that she was coerced into marriage at the age of 14 and was contemplating the possibility of filing for an annulment under the new law.

Betty Kabari, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that the legislation should “break the cycle of early marriage and its devastating consequences.” “It also sets a pathway forward for other African nations, such as Tanzania and Zambia, to revoke laws that permit child marriage.”