AYV News, October 3, 2024
Sierra Leone’s Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has reaffirmed commitment to eliminating child marriage through the recent enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024.
The Speaker said child marriage is a globally recognised harmful practice that disempowers women and girls, adding that this often lead to school dropouts, domestic violence and pregnancy complications.
Hon. Thomas said: “They had no capacity to say no. And some of them go through the pains of early marriage missing a whole lot of their childhood. Some of them are even wedded to old people. Old enough to be their grandfathers. Let us just imagine. Because as we debate this bill relating to children generally, let us just imagine our children in such a picture.
“The kind of love we lavish on our girls. Let us just imagine that those girls are our children subjected to such ordeals”.
Sierra Leone’s Parliament unanimously passed the Bill 2024, a crucial piece of legislation championed by First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio. This private member’s bill outlaws child marriage, a harmful practice that has long plagued the nation.
This Bill seeks to criminalise the act of marrying or entering into a union with a child under the age of 18 years. It includes provisions for enforcing penalties on offenders, protecting victims’ rights, and ensuring access to education and support services for young girls affected by early child marriage.
The Bill also aims to fill legal loopholes by prohibiting marriage before age 18 for both boys and girls without exceptions. It addresses enforcement challenges by establishing penalties for violations and calling upon community leaders to actively support its implementation. By strengthening existing laws and enhancing their enforcement, the bill seeks to create a more protective environment for children, particularly girls.
