The Sierra Leonean prohibition on child marriage is applauded.
A new law outlawing child marriage was introduced in Sierra Leone with great hoopla during a ceremony in the country’s capital, Freetown, hosted by First Lady Fatima Bio.
First women from Namibia and Cape Verde were among the invited visitors who witnessed her husband, President Julius Maada Bio, sign the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act into law.
University student Khadijatu Barrie told the BBC that while she was happy about the ban, she wishes it had been in place to protect her younger sibling, whose sister was married off at the age of 14.
“I sincerely wish it had occurred sooner. At the very least, I could have protected my sister, my friends, and other neighbors,” the 26-year-old undergraduate majoring in gender studies stated.
In the patriarchal country of Sierra Leone, it is typical for a father to force his daughter to offer him her hand in marriage.
At the age of ten, Ms. Barrie confronted this possibility. Her father disowned her, but she refused to accept it and left the family home.
She was fortunate enough to locate supportive UN children’s agency staff who assisted her with housing and teachers who covered her school expenses.
However, she notes that it is hard for people in rural places to break with tradition, and that in order for the new law to be successful, every community must be made aware of it.
“This country will be a better one if everyone knows what’s waiting for them in case they do it,” Ms. Barrie remarked.
According to the ministry of health, one-third of girls get married before turning eighteen, which explains why the nation has one of the worst rates of maternal fatalities worldwide.
The groom, the young bride’s parents or guardians, and even wedding guests are subject to penalty under the new regulations.
Since her husband became president six years ago, Mrs. Bio has led the charge in the fight against sexual assault, so she wanted the bill’s signing to be a significant event.
The law was passed by MPs a few weeks ago, but not much has been reported locally about it.
“My motivation and commitment to empowering women and girls is firmly rooted in my personal life journey,” President Bio stated at the occasion.
Those present included his eight-year-old daughter, who observed him sign the measure.
The 60-year-old president described how his mother and then his older sister raised him after he lost his father when he was a young child, and how they
“supported and encouraged me to follow my aspirations to the best of my ability.
He said, “Together, we want to build an empowered Sierra Leone where women are given an equal platform to reach their full potential.
We are grateful for his wife’s dedication to fighting for women’s rights.” I’ve always thought that women will shape Sierra Leone’s future.
The measure was well received by rights campaigners, who hailed it as a turning point.
The US Bureau of African Affairs
expressed gratitude for the bill’s passing on its X page, noting that it is a “significant milestone that not only protects girls but promotes robust human rights protections.”
