The Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW), in partnership with the Sierra Leone Police (Family Support Unit), hosted a high-level stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the Police Wives Association Hall in Kingtom. The gathering was centered on the rollout of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MoSW and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).
During the event, Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu voiced his pride in being part of the discussions and the signing of the MoU, which marks a significant step towards enforcing the new Act. He emphasized that the MoU represents the SLP’s commitment to realizing the vision of Sierra Leone's First Lady and the country to eradicate early child marriage.
IGP Sellu urged for collective action, acknowledging that the fight against child marriage cannot be won solely by the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Sierra Leone Police. He called on other ministries, agencies, and local and international organizations to unite in this effort. He further emphasized the importance of extending the law to rural areas and engaging traditional leaders in its implementation.
The IGP also expressed concern over the common practice of parents settling child marriage cases with minimal compensation, a challenge to the effective enforcement of the Act. He urged vigilance from both the Ministry and police officers and called for the involvement of the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NACED) in the rollout process.
Addressing the slow pace of justice in such cases, IGP Sellu advocated for the creation of a dedicated fast-track court to handle early child marriage cases. He highlighted the need for all stakeholders in the criminal justice system to work efficiently to combat this issue.
In a show of the SLP’s commitment to protecting children, IGP Sellu announced plans to open a one-stop center for child marriage cases at the new police station in Aberdeen, set to be inaugurated in November 2024. He also highlighted the SLP's witness protection program, designed to ensure the safety of whistleblowers and facilitate the prosecution of offenders.
He mentioned that the Family Support Unit had already started rolling out the law through a series of training programs for officers, ensuring they are well-prepared for its enforcement.
IGP Sellu reaffirmed the Sierra Leone Police’s dedication to upholding and enforcing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024, as well as other laws protecting citizens.
The MoU between the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Sierra Leone Police outlines the purpose of the agreement, areas of collaboration, and the responsibilities of both parties. It includes provisions for handling child abuse, child justice, domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, and other family welfare issues. Both parties agreed to review cases involving children in conflict with the law to determine whether to apply diversion policies or continue with police investigations.
The meeting concluded with a group photo, symbolizing a significant milestone in the fight against child marriage in Sierra Leone.
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