On Wednesday July 3rd 2024, Sierra Leone President Dr. Julius Maada Bio assented to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024. This new law, which was approved by Parliament on June 20th, aims to end child marriage, protect victims, and address related issues. The law criminalizes marrying a girl under the age of 18 and prescribes up to 15 years of imprisonment for offenders.
According to UNICEF, one-third of all girls in Sierra Leone are married before their 18th birthday, with the country home to 800,000 child brides, 400,000 of whom were married before age 15.
To raise awareness about the law, students from the Department of Gender Research and Development Studies at Fourah Bay College (FBC) initiated a three-week campaign to promote the new Act in schools. They started with Vine Memorial School at Congo Cross and Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG), among others.
Team leader Kadijatu Barrie explained that the campaign aims to popularize the Act and save as many children, especially girls, from this harmful practice. “We are passionate and committed to making sure that this Act is well known across the country,” she said.
Barrie noted that the campaign will extend to universities, as it is important for university students to be educated about the new law. The team also plans to use online videos and pictures to spread information.
She emphasized the importance of engaging pupils and students, many of whom are unaware of the new law and its implications. Informing children about their new protections allows them to safeguard themselves and serve as ambassadors of change.
“So, after the Bill was passed into law on June 20th, I was thinking about how to contribute. Hon. Zombo suggested starting at my university with my colleagues, as our course aligns with the Act (Gender Research and Development Studies). I then spoke with our department president, who supported the idea, and here we are now,” Barrie explained.
The pupils were excited to receive the message from the Gender Research and Development Studies students during their morning devotions and classroom sessions. Many expressed a desire to access the new law to educate others.
President Julius Maada Bio remarked that the Abolition of Child Marriage Act 2024, passed just before the first anniversary of his second term, is pivotal for the #WeAreEqual campaign in Sierra Leone. The campaign aims to abolish child marriage and keep girls in school.
The President highlighted that enacting the Abolition of Child Marriage Act 2024 is a defining achievement for his administration. “I hope it will be a seminal part of the story of how our women led the economic transformation of Sierra Leone, making our country a beacon of hope in Africa, where women have boundless opportunities to lead, determine their own future, and inspire the world,” he said.
