By Alusine Sesay
Lawmakers in Sierra Leone on Thursday unanimously passed a bill prohibiting child marriage in the country.
The bill, “Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024”, will become law after President Julius Maada Bio appends his signature on it in the coming days.
The bill received bipartisan votes in Parliament.
Sierra Leone has the 19th highest child marriage rate in the world, with 13% of girls married by age 15, and 39% by age 18.1, according to data from Save the Children. These statistics only provide a partial picture of the extent of the problem, as many young girls enter unions that are not registered as formal marriages.
Girls at risk include those who are:
• in poor and in rural areas – child marriage rates
are 57% among the poorest fifth of rural girls;
• in the Eastern, Southern and Northern Provinces,
where child marriage rates are over 40%, compared
to 20% in the Western Province.
According to Save the Children, Child marriage is an extreme violation of children’s rights, with negative impacts for children and families as well as for society and the economy.
In Sierra Leone, teenage pregnancy and child marriage often trigger a vicious cycle of deprivation and disempowerment for girls, with many marriages characterised by violence and servitude. Affected girls usually drop out of school, depriving them of learning and economic opportunity later in life.
Save the Children said child mothers are vulnerable to mental health problems, often have sexual and reproductive health complications due to having babies before their bodies are ready, and their children are more likely to die young or be malnourished.
Ending child marriage and reducing teenage pregnancy in Sierra Leone would yield considerable benefits for the country, helping to lower population growth and build a healthier, more productive workforce, according to Save the Children.
Research suggests that, by 2030, at the global level, ending child marriage could generate more than US$500 billion in benefits annually from lower population growth, and an additional US$100 billion through reduced deaths and a reduction in severe malnutrition among young children
This landmark legislation aims to eliminate the practice of child marriage, provide protection victims, and deal with offenders. The new law represents a significant victory for advocates of children’s rights and marks a pivotal step towards a brighter future for the girls of Sierra Leone.
Under the new law, individuals found guilty of engaging in, facilitating, or failing to prevent child marriage will face severe penalties. Offenders may be subjected to fines of up to Le100 million, imprisonment for up to 15 years, or both, depending on the severity of the case. This stringent approach is intended to serve as a strong deterrent against the practice and to signal the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of children.
First Lady Fatima Jabbi Maada Bio has been a leading figure in the fight against child marriage in Sierra Leone. Her relentless advocacy has been crucial in bringing this issue to the forefront of national discourse and ensuring the passage of this critical legislation.