By: Hassan Osman Kargbo
A Member of Parliament representing the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party in the House, Hon. Mariama Munia Zombo, has disclosed that the recently enacted Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 made it clearly that, violations of this law can result to a 15-year prison sentence or fines of NLe50, 000 for any perpetrator.
She made this statement on Tuesday 25 July 2024; during the weekly Ministry of Information and Civic Education press conference organized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation conference room Tower Hill Freetown.
According Hon. Zombo, the law strictly bans marriage for individuals under the age of 18, making it a criminal offense to participate in any form of arranging child marriages.
She noted that violations of this law can result to a 15-year prison sentence or fines of NLe50, 000. Hon. Zombo admitted that this legislation, an initiative of First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, received bipartisan support to promote the rights and welfare of the girl child.
She continued that this particular Act has set the stage to stop child marriage, adding that when they spoke of child it includes both boys and girls in the country.
“This particular Act has set the stage to stop child marriage. When we spoke of child it includes both boys and girls in the country. And when we say someone is a child, this is an individual that is under the age of consent which is under the age of 18 years in the country,” she empathized.
She mentioned that the Parliament selected her to be part of the bill because of her long standing experience in advocating for women and children, adding that she has worked for 30 years with and for children in the country.
She continued that though the task was challenging but she put all hands on deck to see that this particular Act was passed in Parliament. She noted that, she had the believe that young boys and girls should be given chance to achieve their fullest potentials in the country.
“I believe that young boys and girls should be given the chance to achieve their fullest potentials in the country. One-third of our young girls in the country had been engaged in early marriage and also there was a time 7% of young boys are married under the age of 18 years,” she stated.
She confirmed that Sierra Leone is among the countries that had the highest numbers of child marriage in Africa and the world at large that is why she said, they pushed for this particular bill to become law in the country.
Madam Zombo said they did a lot of consultations from various stakeholders like the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs, MPs etc. before they could come to the conclusion of this bill in the country.
“We did a lot of consultations from various stakeholders like the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs, MPs etc. before they could come to the conclusion of this bill in the country. And the Sierra Leone Parliament unanimously passed this Bill on June 20 to become law in the country,” she said.
She highlighted that the law is divided into seven part; the first part is Interpretation: which means to interpret key words of the Law and part two is the Prohibition of Child Marriage. Part three is Prohibition or Promotion of Child Marriage, etc.
