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Places in News: Sierra Leone
Context:
In Sierra Leone, a recent law permits child brides to annul their marriages and receive financial compensation.
More on News:
- Around 800,000 girls under 18 were married in Sierra Leone, with half married before 15. By contrast, about 4% of boys were married by 18.
- Sub-Saharan Africa has about 127 million child brides, accounting for 20% of the global total.
- The new law bans marriage for those under 18, with imprisonment up to 15 years or fines exceeding $5,000 for offenders.
- It includes cohabitation and sexual relationships with minors, forbids parental consent to marriages, and penalises anyone aiding or attending such marriages.
About Sierra Leone:
- Location: West Africa.
It lies in the Northern and Western Hemispheres of the Earth
- Capital: Freetown
It commands one of the world’s largest natural harbours.
- Border: Guinea to the north and northeast, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest.
- Official Language: English
- Major Rivers: Sierra Leone River, Great Scarcies (also called the Kolenté), Little Scarcies, Rokel (also called the Seli), Gbangbaia, Jong, Sewa, Waanje, Moa, and Mano.
- Natural resources: Diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
- Landscape: Coastal plains, plateaus, and mountains in the interior.
- Mount Bintumani is the highest point of the nation.
- Currency: Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
- Member of: United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
