The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL), in partnership with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and with support from UNFPA, conducted a large-scale outreach on November 12, 2024, to inform communities about the recently enacted Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024. Over 350 community leaders, educators, and healthcare workers from Segbwema, Pujehun, Kabala, Kambia, and Timbo attended the discussions aimed at curbing child marriage and bolstering child rights nationwide.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 criminalizes child marriage and imposes penalties for offenders, in an effort to reduce teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and health risks among underage girls. Stakeholders expressed strong support for the initiative, pledging to advance understanding of the law’s provisions within their communities.
In Pujehun District, Mammy Queen Mamawa Kaikai emphasized the significance of the law, noting the challenges posed by limited judicial infrastructure, including the absence of a High Court in the district. “This engagement is an eye-opener for us. We see this law as one that will stop child marriage in our communities and help protect the rights of the girl child,” she said.
The workshops highlighted the Act’s objectives and trained participants to identify and address issues of child marriage locally. Mariatu Mansaray, a teacher from Magbema Islamic Secondary School, pledged to educate both her colleagues and students on the law’s importance. “We must inform them about the Act’s penalties to deter child marriage,” she stated.
Health professionals also emphasized their role in advocacy, with Nurse Monica Baiom from Segbwema stating that clinic sessions will now include discussions on the legal and health risks associated with child marriage. “Many pregnant girls in our clinic are underage. Educating them on this issue can prevent early marriages,” Baiom said.
Umaru Bah, District Officer with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in Kambia, described the Act as a transformative tool for Sierra Leone’s future. “This law will help to drastically reduce, if not stop, child marriage and strengthen protections for underage girls against gender-based violence,” he said, affirming the Ministry’s commitment to widespread education on the Act.
HRCSL and the Ministry have pledged to continue these community outreach efforts to reinforce the prohibition of child marriage as a legal and social imperative across Sierra Leone.
