Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Maada Bio is set to urge the United Nations General Assembly to designate November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. The proposal draws on her own experience of narrowly avoiding an arranged marriage at around age 10.
Bio plans to present a draft resolution in New York calling for the permanent observance. The date is not currently marked on the UN calendar. Supporters argue a dedicated day would help maintain focus and drive action against a practice that still affects millions of girls worldwide.
The initiative builds on her long-running Hands Off Our Girls campaign, which targets rape, early marriage and violence against women and girls. Bio has also worked on girls’ education, women’s health and child protection.
In 2022 she led successful efforts that resulted in the General Assembly proclaiming November 18 as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. Domestically, Sierra Leone passed a 2024 law banning marriage for anyone under 18.
The United Nations has long identified child marriage as a major obstacle to girls’ education, health, economic prospects and independence. While an international day alone would not end the practice, it could give governments, civil society groups, schools and agencies a recurring platform to measure progress and reaffirm commitments.
Bio’s work has expanded beyond child marriage. OncoDaily recently included her among its 100 Influential Women in Oncology for 2026 for her contributions to women’s health and cancer prevention. Through a partnership with the Merck Foundation she has supported specialist medical training and scholarships that help build Sierra Leone’s cancer-care capacity. She has also promoted breast-cancer awareness and early detection and taken part in discussions linked to the World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative.
She serves as president of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development and has been named a UNAIDS champion for the empowerment and engagement of adolescent girls and young women.
Bio will take the draft resolution to the UN General Assembly. The personal dimension of her advocacy remains central: the girl who once faced a marriage arranged by adults is now pressing world leaders to protect other girls’ right to shape their own futures and to keep childhood from being cut short by decisions made too early.
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