Four men held over child-marriage in Sierra Leone set to appear in landmark court case
Summary
Sierra Leone is holding its first court case since banning child marriage two years ago. Four men, including a father and the girl’s husband, face charges for forcibly marrying a 17-year-old girl, with penalties including prison or fines.Key Facts
- Sierra Leone banned child marriage two years ago, setting 18 as the minimum marriage age.
- This is the first trial under the new law against child marriage in the country.
- Four men are charged with forcing a 17-year-old into marriage; among them is the girl’s father and the husband.
- Conviction can lead to at least 15 years in jail or a fine of about $4,000, or both.
- The law also punishes anyone attending a child’s wedding.
- Before 2024, customary law allowed parents to consent to child marriages under certain conditions.
- About 30% of girls in Sierra Leone marry before 18, with some as young as 14 in rural areas.
- Gender rights groups support the prosecution, seeing it as enforcement of legal reforms to protect girls.
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