Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas
The Parliament of Sierra Leone on Thursday 20/06/2024 debated extensively and passed into law, with some amendments to the Bill entitled: “The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024”. The Bill is seeking to prohibit child marriage, to provide protection for the victims of child marriage, and to provide for other related matters. The Bill is also divided into seven parts, namely: interpretation, prohibition of child marriage, prohibition of cohabitation with child, annulment of child marriage, compensation, protection for victims of child marriage and miscellaneous.
The Bill attracted several school-going pupils, civil society organizations, campaigners and other personalities, including the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio, and Ministers of Government. Piloting the Private Member’s Bill in the House on the prohibition of child marriage, Hon. Mariama Munia Zombo from Pujehun District, cited the object and reason of the Bill and went on to highlight the division of the Bill. She also justified the Bill by presenting statistical data on child marriage in the country. “This Bill is about boys and girls”, she said. Hon. Zombo said that the campaign: “Hands off our Girls”, had promoted the protection of the girl child. She commended the President and the First Lady of Sierra Leone for demonstrating commitment towards the protection of the girl child. She also highlighted the gains of the “Hands off our Girls” campaign by the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Jabbe Maada Bio, adding that the Bill is focused on the eradication of child marriage. Hon. Zombo also highlighted the lacunae in certain laws that touched on child marriage in Sierra Leone informed the House about the negative effects of early marriage, and called for the unification of MPs on the law. “Some are ready to testify on the bitterness they had faced in such marriages”, she concluded.
In her contribution to the debate, the Opposition Whip 2, Hon. Zainab Catherine Tarawally, who doubles as the Chairperson of the Gender Committee in Parliament, applauded Hon. Mariama Zombo for championing the Bill and went on to commend the First Lady for championing the “Hands off Our Girls” campaign in Sierra Leone. Hon. Zainab briefed the House on the background of the prohibition of early child marriage. “This Bill is not for any political party, but a Bill for Sierra Leone”, she averred, highlighting the statistical data on early child marriage.
Hon. Amie Moriba from Bo District submitted her debate on the protection of the girl child and admonished children to avoid early sex and concentrate on their education. Hon. Mariama Bangura from Western Area Urban, said the Bill before the House is a beacon of hope for the girl child. She said fine laws are enacted by Parliament, but questioned the implementation and protection of these laws. “Child marriage has destroyed the well-being of our children, let boys be boys and girls be girls”, she said.
On her part, Hon.Lolloh Tongi from Kailahun District commended the President and the First Lady for championing, protecting and promoting the rights of the girls, including education in the country. She referred to early child marriage as horrible and went on to describe the negative consequences associated with early child marriage.
On his part, Hon. Benjamin Turay commended the First Lady of Sierra Leone for supporting the protection of the girl child noted that offences against children are criminal, and requested for tougher laws to be enacted against defaulters.
Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, the Opposition Whip, dedicated his submission to women who are unable to make it, due to early child marriage. He called on MPs and others to champion education and awareness raising on the content of the Bill. “Let’s take this Bill to our constituents, universities and schools to educate our people”, he appealed.
In his contribution to the debate, Hon. Dickson Rogers, Chief Whip of Parliament, appreciated the First Lady for her support and protection of children. He narrated that the First Lady had championed several Bills connecting to the promotion and protection of women and girls in the country.
The Chief Whip emphasized awareness raising and the implementation of the Bill to their people. He called for the establishment of a special court to deal with matters of child marriage in Sierra Leone.
Hon. PC Fatmata Bintu Meama Kaijue from Moyamba District called on all Traditional Paramount Chiefs to adhere to the Bill and called for the popularization of same. Hon. Mahawa Sia Tommy from Kono District said the Bill had given hope and assurance to young women and girls in the country. She also said that child marriage is a cancer in the upbringing of children, and went on to highlight the negative effects of early child marriage. She called for progressive implementation of the law, and line MDAs to step up and support the Bill.
Hon. Tamba Kellie from Kono District said the Bill is timely, and went on to commend the pioneers of the Bill and called on the House to set up a Parliamentary Committee to vet any related regulations in respect of same, before approval and implementation. Hon. Jibrila Surmoijueh from Bonthe District, extended his appreciation to the President and the First Lady of Sierra Leone for gender empowerment in the country.
He said the Government of President Bio had achieved 30% of women’s inclusion in governance and highlighted statistical data on early child marriage. Hon. Bashiru Silikie, the Deputy Leader and Leader of Government Business 1 said the passing of this law would be the best by the Parliament of Sierra Leone, due to the protection of children. Hon. Silikie went on to define a child by the Bill as someone below eighteen years old. The Deputy Leader highlighted the penalties that are prescribed in the Bill.
On her part, Hon. Neneh Lebbie, Chief Whip 2 of Parliament, referred to the Bill as a nice Bill, giving background information on the Bill. She commended the First Lady for championing the dignity and rights of the girl child. Hon. Lebbie said the Bill before the House had triggered a lot of stories on women in early child marriages. Hon. Lebbie spoke also on the magnitude of penalties for early child marriage.
In his submission to the Bill, the Deputy Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business 2, Hon. Emerson Saa Lamina, referred to the Constitution of Sierra Leone about the functions of Parliament relative to lawmaking. He said Sierra Leone is a signatory to many international treaties and conventions and has done a lot in the promotion of women’s rights and their protection, promotion and empowerment. Hon. Emerson Lamina dilated on the work of the First Lady on the ‘Hands Off Our Girls’ campaign. He praised the First Lady for her efforts towards the protection of children in the country.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, said he is a believer in traditional and cultural affairs, but the law is the law and called on the citizens to respect the law. The Deputy Speaker praised the First Lady and described her hard work as fair to the nation. He called on the House for a budgetary allocation to the Office of the First Lady, the reason being, he said, that the latter had served Sierra Leone well. He concluded by thanking Honourable Mariama Zombo and urged colleague MPs to support the Bill through popularization.
Rounding up the debate, Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, extended gratitude to all those who supported the progressiveness of the Bill before the House for enactment. The Opposition Leader narrated statistical data presented by UNICEF that 39% of children are married before 18 years, and noted that 30% of girls dropped out of school due to early child marriage, referencing a survey done by Save The Children, an organisation that deals with children. He said the only way to stop early child marriage and violence against women is through legislation.
The Opposition Leader commended Madam First Lady for going all out to support the Bill before the House for consideration. “This is a legacy we are leaving for our generation, ” he said, advocating for total enforcement of the law when enacted by Parliament. The Opposition Leader used the opportunity to advise school-going children to be aware of their surroundings and avoid early sex.
In concluding the debate, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, commended the First Lady and the pioneers of the Bill. On the Bill, the Leader said that the age bracket is eighteen, and noted that below eighteen is a crime against the State. The Leader used the opportunity to highlight the object, memorandum and reason for the Bill, and reechoed the calls for the continuous popularization of the Bill. He also called on the House for the enforcement of the law and called on MDAs that are attached to the implementation of the Bill, to do the needful for the people of Sierra Leone.
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, delivered a statement on the Bill and appreciated the Bill’s intention to protect the children in our society. “We are making this law for the protection of our children and laws”, he said. The Speaker called on the media to use their corporate social responsibility to popularize the Bill to the people of Sierra Leone.
In another development also the Parliament of Sierra Leone on Thursday 20/06/2024 debated and ratified the Fisheries Agreement. Parliament ratified the Following Agreement: Fisheries Subsidies, Ministerial Decision Dated 17-June-2022, Ministerial Conference Twelfth Session Held in Geneva 12-15-2022 The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Madam Princess Dugba presented the agreement for ratification by Parliament.
