Dr. Isata Mahoi, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, launched the third phase of the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

This event was themed “Prohibition of Child Marriage Act” and coincided with the recent enactment of the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2024.

Key stakeholders in attendance included UNICEF, UNFPA, the UK government, and various ministers.

In her address, Dr. Mahoi praised the government’s commitment to combating child marriage in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality.

She acknowledged the reduction of child marriage rates in Sierra Leone from 48 percent in 2008 to 30 percent in 2019 but emphasized that one in three adolescent girls remains at risk of early marriage.

The new law criminalizing marriage for those under 18 is expected to be pivotal in addressing this issue.

Dr. Mahoi also recognized First Lady Fatima Bio’s “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign and the parliament’s role in passing the Child Marriage Prohibition Act as part of a broader child protection strategy.

She outlined the ministry’s framework for enhancing gender-responsive child protection services and improving access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents.

The Minister expressed gratitude to UNFPA and UNICEF for their support and called for continued collaboration to ensure the sustainability of the program.

She urged stakeholders to focus on community initiatives, youth-led actions, and educational investments that challenge social attitudes toward child marriage

Concluding the event, Dr. Mahoi formally declared the third phase of the Global Programme to End Child Marriage launched, emphasizing its focus on law enforcement, empowering girls through education, and working with communities to change cultural norms around early marriage.

She thanked all participants for their commitment to ending child marriage in Sierra Leone.