By Ragan M. Conteh

The sixth Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone may today ban Child initiation (Bondo) today 15th October 2024.

It could be recalled that President Julius Maada Bio has called on emergency sitting in the Chamber of Parliament today which the order paper is yet to be issued out on public domain.

The Emergency sitting on Tuesday marks the second sitting that President Bio summoned within six years in governance.

Speculations are that the sitting is as a result of the passing of the child right act into law which prohibits child marriage and child initiation into the ‘bondo’ society.

It is also not clear whether Members of Parliament on both sides of aisle will retain any section that has to do with ‘bondo’ society.

Members of Parliament in the Legislative Committee in Parliament has on Monday 14th October, 2024 also scrutinized the Child Right Act Bill.

According to the bill that is before Parliament now, it reads thus: A person, court or other authority shall not involve a child in the participation of harmful practices including early marriage, child betrothal and female genital cutting.

It further states that appropriate legislative, administrative, social

and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of sexual abuse, while in the care of a parent, legal guardian or any other person who has the care of the child.

According to the bill The minimum age of marriage, of whatever kind, shall be 18 years.

The bill also states that: A person shall not force a child-(a) to be betrothed, (b) to be the subject of a dowry transaction; or (c) to be married.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a certificate, licence or registration shall not be granted in respect of a marriage unless the Registrar or other responsible officer is satisfied that the parties to the marriage are of the age of maturity.

The bill emphasized that: A person, court or other authority shall take appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of neglect or egligent treatment while in the care of his parent, legal guardian or any other person who has the care of the child.

It says: A person, court or other authority shall take appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from human trafficking including the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, or the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or

the giving or receiving of payment to obtain the consent of a person having control over a child.

The bill spoke on many other ways to handle perpetrators of the child under the age of 18 years and below.