Sierra Leone has officially banned child marriage with President Julius Maada Bio signing into law a bill to end the practice that is common in the country. Advocates believe the new legislation will help protect girls in Sierra Leone, where one-third of girls are married before they turn 18. This practice contributes to an increase in maternal death rates due to the physical risks faced by underage girls during pregnancy.
Under the new law, any man who marries a girl under the age of 18 could face at least 15 years in prison and a fine of around $4,000. Parents or those attending such marriage ceremonies could also face fines. The passage of this bill was welcomed by the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs as a significant milestone in promoting human rights protections.
West and Central Africa have the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world, with nearly 60 million child brides in the region, according to UNICEF. A 21-year-old former child bride in Sierra Leone, who was forced into marriage at the age of 14, shared her story and stated that she was considering going to court to seek an annulment now that the new law allows for it.
Human Rights Watch researcher Betty Kabari stated that the new legislation should help break the cycle of early marriage and its negative consequences. It also sets an example for other African nations, such as Tanzania and Zambia, to reconsider laws that allow child marriage.
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