Sierra Leone has passed a new law banning child marriage with much fanfare, at a ceremony hosted by First Lady Biography of Fatima in the capital Freetown.
Invited guests, including first ladies from Cape Verde and Namibia, watched as her husband became president Biography of Julius Maada signed the Child Marriage Prohibition Act.
Anyone now involved in the marriage of a girl under 18 faces a minimum of 15 years in prison or a fine of around $4,000 (£3,200), or both.
University student Khadijatu Barrie, whose sister was married off at the age of 14, told the BBC she welcomed the ban but wished it had been introduced to save her younger brother.
“I really wish it had happened earlier. At least I could have saved my sister, my friends and other neighbors,” said the 26-year-old gender studies student.
Sierra Leone is a patriarchal society and it is common for a father to force his daughter into marriage.
Mrs. Barrie was confronted with this prospect at the age of 10. She resisted it and fled home after her father disowned her.
She was lucky to find teachers who paid her school fees and a sympathetic worker from the UN children’s rights agency who helped her with housing.
However, she says it is difficult for people living in rural areas to break the tradition and that every community needs to be made aware of the new law for it to be effective.
“If everyone understands what you’re getting into if you do it, I’m sure this country will be a better country,” Ms Barrie said.
The Ministry of Health estimates that a third of girls are married off before the age of 18, which explains the country’s high maternal mortality rate, which is among the highest in the world.
Those punished under the new rules include the groom, the child bride’s parents or guardians, and even those present at the wedding.
Mrs. Bio, who has been a leader in the fight against sexual abuse since her husband became president six years ago, wanted the signing of the bill to be a major event.
Since MPs passed the legislation a few weeks ago, it has not received much attention locally.
During the ceremony, President Bio said his “motivation and commitment to empower women and girls is firmly rooted in my personal life journey”.
His eight-year-old daughter was one of the people who saw him sign the law.
The 60-year-old president explained how he lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother and later his older sister, who “supported and encouraged him to pursue my dreams to the best of my ability”.
He acknowledged his wife’s commitment to advocating for women’s rights: “Together we want to build an empowered Sierra Leone where women are given an equal platform to achieve their full potential. I have always believed that the future of Sierra Leone is female.”
Human rights activists responded positively to the law, calling it a turning point.
On its X-page, the US Bureau of African Affairs welcomed the bill’s passage, saying the “important milestone not only protects girls but also advances robust human rights protections.”
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