Sierra Leone has banned child marriage – to truly set women free it must end FGM | Josephine Kamara
![Sierra Leone has banned child marriage – to truly set women free it must end FGM | Josephine Kamara](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ff14ae935073b802e3ff21d3707ca565d7dc3798/0_89_1003_602/master/1003.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ce8ea7e68d5635348e7481c89b0101e7)
Marrying young girls may now be illegal, but lawmakers seem reluctant to put a stop to genital cutting, and the two go hand in hand
This week, Sierra Leone made history when the president signed into law the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024. For a country with one of the highest rates of child marriage, teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality in the world, it is a crucial step forward, and a hard-won achievement for campaigners in west Africa.
Sierra Leone has 800,000 child brides – and of those more than half were married before the age of 15, so there is no question that this is groundbreaking legislation. It repeals previous ambiguous laws to explicitly name child marriage as illegal and underscores a clear commitment to girls’ rights. The legislation also establishes mechanisms for enforcement, ensuring that perpetrators – including the husband and those who enable the marriage such as parents and the person officiating – are held accountable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment, with survivors now able to seek justice and compensation.
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The New York Times - World
Sierra Leone Bans Child Marriage With New Law
A new law in the West African country of Sierra Leone allows child brides to annul their marriages and be financially compensated. -
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Sierra Leone outlaws child marriage; even witnesses to such weddings will be punished
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Sierra Leone outlaws child marriage. Even witnesses can face jail time.
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