Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh bans child marriage

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh has banned child marriages. 

Speaking at the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations at the end of Ramadan, Mr Jammeh said anyone who marries a girl under 18 years will spend 20 years in jail. 

He added that parents also involved in this act will also spend 21 years in jail. 

Further, anyone who knows about it and fails to report the matter to the authorities would spend 10 years in jail. 

He also threatened a jail term for the imam involved in the wedding ceremony.

Meanwhile President Jammeh has called for legislation to confirm the ban later this month.

Some 46 percent of girls in The Gambia get married before they are 18, according to the UN children's agency.


SOURCE: BBC news