Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio signed a law banning child marriage, with severe penalties for violators.
Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio has signed a bill into law banning child marriage in the country. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act states that individuals involved in the marriage of a girl under 18 will face jail time of at least 15 years, a fine of around $4,000, or both. Parents and those attending the marriage ceremony could also face fines. This marks a significant milestone as West and Central Africa has the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world, with nearly 60 million child brides, according to the U.N. children's agency UNICEF. The new law aims to break the cycle of early marriage and its devastating consequences, and serves as a pathway for other African nations like Tanzania and Zambia to revoke laws allowing child marriage.