Early marriage has become a menace that is slowly eating into the development of young girls in Sierra Leone. It has to be stopped, and all emphasis should be put in place to stop early marriage” said Tiana Alpha, President of Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL).
On Monday WIMSAl engaged media practitioners at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) head quarter at Campbell Street in Freetown, to discuss issues surrounding early child marriage in the country and how the media can help sensitize and raise awareness of the imminent consequences of early marriage in women’s development and the nation as a whole.
Tiana said “despite strides made by the government of Sierra Leone and development partners and organizations, child marriage continues to deny our young girls and our future leaders, from enjoying their rights to quality education, proper growth, and development”.
She told journalist that her organization is working in collaboration with the office of the first Lady, Plan International SL, Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGC) and UNICEF to promote the campaign against early marriage.
She furthered that WIMSAl will be embarking on massive sensitization exercise which includes two days orientation and material development workshop targeting women’s right promotion presenters from twenty community radio stations across the country.
“WIMSAL is taking the lead in the media engagement, our role as media practitioners is key in this campaign, connecting every village, chiefdom and district with harmonized and well-coordinated messages. It’s an ongoing campaign and we therefore appeal to all our colleagues in the media to support this campaign and ensure nationwide coverage, as we strive to end child marriage in Sierra Leone” Tiana appealed.
Deputy Minister of MSWGCA, Neneh Turay informed Journalists that on 19th August 2016 the African Union Campaign to stop early marriage will be launched.
She said her ministry together with the office of the first Lady has been working relentlessly to stop early marriage but noted that challenges they are faced with are conflicting laws.
“International legislation states minimum age of consent and marriage is 18 years, but in Sierra Leone another piece of the national legislation, the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act 2009, leaves the age of consent open as long as the parents’ consent”.
Neneh Turay stated that laws are being implemented to ease the percentage of child marriage but there are some laws that allow consenting parents to give their children to marriage and stated they are presently working to harmonize these laws.
The office of the First lady, was represented by Sheku Nuni, who explained the First lady’s commitment to end child marriage in Sierra Leone.
Sheku said that First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma has been busy engaging international organizations in the fight against early marriage and therefore stress the need to compliment her efforts.
By Mariam S Bah
Tuesday August 09, 2016