Sierra Leone's first lady on escaping child marriage and becoming a national figure
Sierra Leone's first lady, Fatima Maada Bio, told BBC Africa how she escaped a forced child marriage and became a prominent national figure. Her comments reignited the debate over girls' education and legal protection in the country.
In an interview with BBC Africa, Sierra Leone's first lady Fatima Maada Bio recounted how she escaped a forced child marriage and went on to become a prominent national public figure.
Bio is a leading voice in campaigns for girls' education, prevention of child marriage and stronger legal protection. In recent years Sierra Leone has introduced regulations curbing early marriage, and the first lady's personal story is expected to deepen debate over how those reforms are being implemented.
International organisations have highlighted Sierra Leone's high rate of early marriage. The story refocuses attention on civil-society work across West Africa and on government policy responses.
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