Sierra Leone’s parliament has passed legislation outlawing child marriage, a move hailed by activists as a significant advancement for children’s rights.
The new law makes it illegal to marry girls under 18 years old and imposes penalties of up to 15 years in prison for offenders.
According to UNICEF, one-third of girls in Sierra Leone are married before they turn 18. The country currently has 800,000 child brides, with 400,000 of them married before they reach the age of 15.
Many girls in Sierra Leone drop out of school due to poverty and are subsequently married off by their families, often as a means to improve financial circumstances or settle debts.
