By Josephine Sesay
The First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), Fatima Maada Bio, has strongly condemned child marriage, describing it as a form of “legalised rape” and urging greater global efforts to end the practice.
Mrs. Bio made the remarks during an interview on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper, where she joined tech executive and philanthropist Sheryl Sandberg to discuss the need to protect girls and ensure they have the opportunity to pursue education and achieve their dreams.
Speaking with host Jake Tapper, the First Lady said child marriage strips young girls of their childhood and forces them into adult responsibilities before they are ready.
She noted that the practice often prevents girls from continuing their education and building the future they aspire to.
According to Mrs. Bio, when a girl is forced into marriage at an early age, her hopes and ambitions are often replaced by the burdens of family responsibilities, making it difficult for her to pursue personal goals.
Reflecting on her own life, the First Lady said she considers herself fortunate to have escaped the cycle of child marriage. She explained that the Sierra Leone Civil War changed the course of her life and that without the circumstances created by the conflict, she might have been married off at a young age.
Mrs. Bio also revealed that her husband, Julius Maada Bio, views child marriage as a crime against humanity. She stated that under his leadership, laws have been enacted and implemented to address the issue and ensure that those who facilitate or engage in child marriages involving minors are held accountable.
The First Lady’s appearance on CNN follows her recent engagement at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs in New York City, where she addressed international leaders and stakeholders on the urgent need to end child marriage while promoting education, protection, and empowerment for girls.
Mrs. Bio reiterated that ending child marriage is critical to protecting the rights of girls and enabling them to reach their full potential, calling on governments, development partners, and communities to take decisive action against the practice.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 16th March 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
