Sierra Leone - June 2024

On 20 June, Sierra Leone’s parliament passed a bill banning child marriage. Child marriage is a long-standing and widespread problem in the country, where 30 per cent of girls and 4 per cent of boys are married before the age of 18, with rates reported to be even higher in rural areas. Girls affected by the practice suffer a range of damaging impacts, including diminished access to education, health problems and greater vulnerability to domestic violence. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill  criminalises marriage for anyone under the age of 18 and creates a number of related offences, including conducting a child marriage, promoting child marriage and attending a child marriage. Amongst other things, it also automatically voids child marriages contracted after the law’s enactment and provides for the safeguarding and care of child marriage victims. The bill was signed into law by President Julius Maada Bio on 2 July.  

Sources: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024, Office of the First Lady, Human Rights Watch, Save the Children, The State House