Government Under Pressure Over ECOWAS Court Order to Pay Child Marriage Victim $10,000

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Government of Sierra Leone to pay USD10,000 in compensation to a survivor of child marriage, undertake legal and institutional reforms to strengthen the protection of girls, and investigate and prosecute those responsible for the victim’s marriage.

The landmark ruling was delivered in the case of A Minor and AdvocAid Limited v. Republic of Sierra Leone (ECW/CCJ/APP/09/24), which was filed in February 2024 by the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and AdvocAid Limited.

The applicants challenged the State’s failure to prevent the child marriage of a girl who was reportedly married at the age of 11 in 2017. According to the case, the marriage exposed the child to abuse and harmful circumstances that eventually led to her conviction in 2021 for the murder of her co-wife’s child.

Following her conviction, the minor was detained at the Approved School at the President’s pleasure for four years before receiving a presidential pardon in August 2025.

The applicants argued that Sierra Leone’s failure to prevent the child marriage placed the girl in circumstances that ultimately brought her into conflict with the law. They further contended that the case highlighted significant weaknesses in the country’s legal and institutional framework for protecting girls from child marriage.

In its judgment, the ECOWAS Court held that Sierra Leone failed to take adequate measures to prevent and eliminate child marriage and did not effectively protect the victim and other girls at risk. The Court also ruled that child marriage constitutes a form of gender-based violence.

The Court found that the State failed to properly investigate the child marriage despite information relating to the matter having been made available to both the police and the courts during the murder proceedings.

As part of its ruling, the Court ordered Sierra Leone to undertake legal and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the protection of girls from child marriage. It further directed the authorities to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for the minor’s marriage.

The Court also ordered the State to provide the survivor with immediate psychological counselling and rehabilitation support in addition to the payment of USD10,000 in compensation.

During the proceedings, the applicants noted that Sierra Leone had enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024 and the Child Rights Act of 2025 while the case was pending. Both laws expressly prohibit child marriage.

Reacting to the judgment, IHRDA Legal Representative AbdulMalik Bello described the decision as a victory for girls at risk of child marriage across the region.

“This decision is a victory not only for the minor but for every girl at risk of child marriage. The Court has reaffirmed that States cannot remain passive,” he said.

AdvocAid Legal Manager Willetta Hughes said the judgment demonstrates that strong laws alone are insufficient without effective implementation and protection mechanisms for vulnerable girls.

The ruling is expected to have wider implications across West Africa, where child marriage remains prevalent due to cultural practices, socio-economic challenges, weak protection systems and inadequate enforcement of existing laws.

IHRDA and AdvocAid have indicated that they will continue to pursue full compliance with the ECOWAS Court’s judgment and seek justice for the survivor and other girls affected by child marriage.