Polygamy in Sierra Leone
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Polygamy is prohibited under Sierra Leone’s penal code. Polygamy is authorized in customary marriages (under customary laws, the indigenous law of the various ethnic groups of Africa), where a man can take as many wives as he wishes.[1]
Prevalence of polygamy
As of 2019, 30% of women and 14% of men were in a polygamous union. However, "the percentage of women with one or more co-wives has decreased gradually over time, from 37% in 2008 and 35% in 2013 to 30% in 2019".[2] The most common form of polygamous arrangements consist of one man with two or three wives.[3]
Polygamy is more prevalent in rural than urban areas of Sierra Leone. As of 2019, 36% of rural women have at least one co-wife, compared to 20% of urban women. In addition, 19% of rural men report having two or more wives, compared with 7% of urban men.[2]
References
- ^ [CEDAW (2007), Responses to the List of Issues And Questions with Regard to the Consideration of the Combined Initial, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports: Sierra Leone, CEDAW/C/SLE/Q/5/Add. 1, CEDAW, New York, NY, p. 17.]
- ^ a b "Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey 2019". The DHS Program: 61–62. October 2020.
- ^ Newbury, Emma (June 2017). "UNDERSTANDING WOMEN'S LIVES IN POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGES: EXPLORING COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES IN SIERRA LEONE & DRC" (PDF).
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