[Banjul/Abuja, 25June 2026] — The ECOWAS Court of Justice delivered its judgment in the case of ‘A Minor’ and AdvocAid Limited against the Republic of Sierra Leone ECW/CCJ/APP/09/24,a case concerning Sierra Leone’s obligations to prevent child marriage, protect victims, and ensure accountability for perpetrators.

Filed in February 2024 by the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and AdvocAid Limited (ADVOCAID), the case challenged Sierra Leone’s failure to effectively respond to the child marriage of the minor, who was married at the age of 11 in 2017. The child marriage exposed her to a range of harms and vulnerabilities that ultimately culminated in her conviction in 2021 for the murder of her co-wife’s child. She was sentenced to detention at the Approved School at the pleasure of the President of Sierra Leone. She remained in detention for approximately four years until she received a presidential pardon in August 2025. The Applicants argued that Sierra Leone’s failure to prevent and respond to the minor’s child marriage played a significant role in placing her in circumstances that brought her into conflict with the law. The case highlighted systemic gaps in the country’s legal and institutional framework for protecting girls from child marriage and its harmful consequences. It is worth noting that while the case was pending before the Court, Sierra Leone passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024 and the Child Rights Act of 2025, which expressly prohibit child marriage.

In respect of the minor in this case, the Court found that Sierra Leone failed to take adequate measures to prevent and eliminate child marriage and to effectively protect the minor in the case and other girls from the practice. It further held that child marriage constitutes a form of gender-based violence and found that Sierra Leone failed in its obligation to properly investigate the child marriage of the minor despite having knowledge, or sufficient reason to have knowledge, of the violation in view of the information provided by the minor and other family members to the police and court during the investigation and prosecution of the murder case.

Consequently, the Court ordered Sierra Leone to undertake the necessary legal and institutional reforms to strengthen the protection of girls from child marriage. The Court also directed the State to investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible for the minor’s child marriage. In addition, the Court awarded USD 10,000 to the minor in compensation and ordered Sierra Leone to immediately provide her with necessary psychological counseling and rehabilitation support.

Legal representative from IHRDA, AbdulMalik Bello, welcomed the judgment, stating:
“This decision is a victory not only for the minor in the instant case but for every girl at risk of child marriage in the region. The Court has reaffirmed that States cannot remain passive in the face of child marriage. We hope the judgment will inspire meaningful reforms and stronger protection for girls across West Africa.”

Willetta Hughes, Legal Manager at AdvocAid, also welcomed the judgment, noting: “This judgment sends a clear message that protecting girls requires more than strong laws—it requires action. We hope it marks a turning point in ensuring that girls affected by child marriage receive the protection, support and justice they deserve.”

This decision by the ECOWAS Court of Justice makes a significant contribution to the jurisprudence outlawing child marriage and protecting children from the practice. Child marriage remains rampant in West Africa, driven by a multiplicity of factors which include cultural and religious influences, weak protection systems and laws, socio-economic circumstances, and weak enforcement of laws where prohibitory provisions exist. IHRDA and AdvocAid will continue to pursue justice for the child affected in this case, and many others in her situation, through seeking full compliance and enforcement of the ECOWAS Court of Justice decision.

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About IHRDA
The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) works to strengthen the effectiveness of the African human rights system through strategic litigation, capacity building, and information sharing.

About Advocaid

AdvocAid works with girls and women in Sierra Leone, providing access to justice via free legal representation, education, detainee support.

For more information contact:

Dennis Njoroge

Communication and Publications Officer (IHRDA)
dnjoroge@ihrda.org

Tel: +226 452 6155 (Gambia)

+254 746 129 297 (WhatsApp only)

Maimouna Jallow
Communication and Publications Manager (IHRDA)
mjallow@ihrda.org

Tel: +226 331 7347 (Gambia)

+34 608 919 919 (WhatsApp only)

Willetta Hughes

Legal Manager (Advocaid)

legalmanager@advocadsl.org