Sierra Leone has banned child marriage. According to the French News Agency (AFP), the new law, passed by parliament makes it a crime to marry a girl under 18 years of age. It also mandates jail time of up to 15 years. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says one-third of all girls in Sierra Leone are married before their 18th birthday. Sierra Leone Information Minister Chernor Bah tells VOA’s James Butty, the ban marks a significant milestone for his country’s journey to defending the welfare of its children.