Liberia

25% of girls in Liberia marry before the age of 18 and 6% marry before the age of 15.

8% of boys in Liberia marry before the age of 18.

The lowest median ages of marriage are in rural areas: 19.1 as compared to 23.3 in urban areas. Median age at first marriage generally increases with increasing wealth among women age 25-49.

Child marriage is driven by gender inequality and the belief that women and girls are somehow inferior to men and boys. In Liberia, child marriage is also driven by:

● Poverty: Girls in Liberia’s poorest households are more likely to marry as children than those in the richest households.

● Level of education: Liberian girls with no education are more likely to marry before the age of 18.

● Harmful practices: As reported by UNICEF in 2012, some communities mark a girl’s social transition from childhood to adolescence through initiation ceremonies. These are conducted by female sande secret societies that are responsible for initiating girls into adulthood, and mark their readiness to enter into unions with men.

● Violence against girls: According to the same 2012 UNICEF study, some Liberian girls are married to male “protectors” soon after puberty with the misguided perception that this will shield them from exposure to sexual predators. This is a customary practice that is particularly common during times of conflict.

Adolescent pregnancy: In 2016, 34% of girls in Liberia aged 15-19 were already mothers or were pregnant. Pregnancy out of wedlock can initiate an early marriage.

Liberia has committed to ending child, early and forced marriage by 2030 in line with target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The government submitted a Voluntary National Review at the 2022 High Level Political Forum but did not mention child marriage. Despite no mention of child marriage, the government has acknowledged that the rates of violence against women and gender inequality are increasing. Due to this, the government has developed several gender policies, such as the National Gender Policy (2018-2022) and the Anti-Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Roadmap (2020-2022).

Liberia co-sponsored the 2015 Human Rights Council resolution to end child, early and forced marriage, recognising that it is a violation of human rights, and the 2017 Human Rights Council resolution recognising the need to address child, early and forced marriage in humanitarian contexts.

Liberia co-sponsored the 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022 UN General Assembly resolutions on child, early and forced marriage, and signed a joint statement at the 2014 Human Rights Council calling for a resolution on child marriage.

Liberia ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1993, which the Committee on the Rights of the Child has interpreted to recommend the establishment of a minimum age of marriage of 18, and acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1984, which obligates states to ensure free and full consent to marriage.

During its 2020 Universal Periodic Review, Libera acknowledged that there are efforts being made nationally to address harmful practices. These efforts include sixteen days of activism where topics such as FGM/C and child marriage are discussed across fifteen counties by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

During its 2015 Universal Periodic Review, Liberia agreed to examine recommendations to combat child marriage and increase support for girls in rural areas and from the poorest households who are most at risk.

In December 2016, Liberia became the 18th country to launch the African Union campaign to end child marriage in Africa under the theme “We are children, not wives, save us from child marriage”.

In 2007 Liberia ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, including Article 21 regarding the prohibition of child marriage.

In 2007 Liberia ratified the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, including Article 6 which sets the minimum age for marriage as 18.

As a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in 2017 Liberia adopted the Strategic Framework for Strengthening National Child Protection Systems under which protecting children from marriage is a priority. In June 2019, the ECOWAS Heads of State endorsed the ECOWAS Child Policy and Strategic Action Plan and the 2019-2030 Roadmap on prevention and response to child marriage.

In addition, in July 2019, the ECOWAS First Ladies signed “The Niamey Declaration: Call to End Child Marriage and to promote the Education and Empowerment of Girls”, calling Member States to initiate legislative, institutional and budgetary reforms to implement the Roadmap.

Liberia is one of the countries where the Spotlight Initiative (a global multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations) is supporting efforts to end all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls. Between 2019-2020, the European Union invested $22 million USD. The funds have been distributed as follows:

Policy: Advocating for the implementation of Law Reform Policy and amending the Domestic Violence Law in line with international human rights instruments. At the community level, engaging with community elders to align customary laws with national laws on prevention and response to violence against women and girls.

Institution: Strengthen the capacity for all relevant institutions at national and community levels to coordinate and implement the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, harmful practices and sexual and reproductive rights.

Prevention: Targeting community elders to engage in dialogues to engage adolescents in conversations surrounding harmful practices, FGM/C, adolescent pregnancy and child marriage.

Data: Standardising tools and methods of data collection and information to support decision-making and policy development which will assist in monthly data collection on gender-based violence at national and regional levels.

Women’s movement and civil society: Developing strategic interventions to promote accountability and transparency in ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

Liberia is a partner country of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

In December 2016, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection officially launched a campaign to end child marriage in the country. There is limited information on the governmental efforts to end child marriage in the context of this campaign.

In 2019, after a series of nationwide consultative dialogues organised by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia with traditional leaders and supported by UNFPA and the Embassy of Sweden, the Traditional Leaders of Liberia committed to ending child marriage and adolescent pregnancy, and to ensuring that girls are given the chance to continue their education without any form of obstruction in the name of tradition and culture.

According to the Domestic Relations Law 1973, the legal age of marriage for girls is 18 years and 21 years for boys. For those under the minimum legal ages, but over the age of 16 years, the consent of a parent, guardian or judge is required for marriage.

The marriage of a child under the age of 16 is prohibited both under civil and customary law.