Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has signed into law a bill prohibiting child marriage, imposing harsh penalties on offenders.
The signing ceremony, held in Freetown, was hosted by First Lady Fatima Bio and marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to protect children’s rights. The new law makes it illegal to marry anyone under the age of 18.
The first ladies of Namibia and Cape Verde, Sustjie Mbumba and Debora Katisa Carvalho respectively attended the ceremony.
Going forward, anyone who contravenes the law by marrying out his daughter or taking a bride before attaining the age of 18 is liable to a jail term of 15 years or a fine of about $4000 dollars or both.
The law defines defaulters as parent(s) of an underage bride, the groom and anyone who supports or witnesses the wedding.
The new law was greeted with wild jubilation across the country, particularly among feminist groups championing the rights of a girl child.
Reacting to the development, the US Bureau of African Affairs welcomed the signing of the law on its X handle saying “the significant milestone not only protects girls but promotes robust human rights protections”.
Khadijatu Barrie whose sister was married off at 14 welcomed the new law with jubilation, hoping it would save other minors from child marriage, BBC Hausa Service reports.
“I wish the child marriage prohibition act was enacted earlier, it would have saved my sister, my friends and neighbors,” said the 16-year-old Barrie.
Barrie escaped child marriage through the intervention of the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF).
The country’s ministry of health said one out of three girls became wives before they were 18. This is because culturally in Sierra Leone, men decide women’s fate, including when to marry.
However, some have expressed reservations about implementing the new law, especially in rural communities.