



President Julius Maada Bio signed a measure banning child marriage in Sierra Leone, where one-third of Sierra Leonean girls are married before reaching 18 years old. The health ministry says early marriages increase maternal mortality due to the physical dangers of childbearing at such young ages.
Under the new rule, a male who marries a minor may be imprisoned for 15 years and fined $4,000. Parents and guests at such weddings may also be fined. UNICEF reports that there are approximately 60 million child brides in West and Central Africa, the highest rate in the world.
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