Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991, as amended to 2022
Marriage and Family Life
  • English
    Whereas every person in Sierra Leone is entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, has the right, whatever his race, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following—

    c. respect for private and family life;
    … (Sec. 15)
Marriage and Family Life
  • English
    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), (5), and (7), no law shall make provision which is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    (3) In this section the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, tribe, sex, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject, or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    (4) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision—

    d. with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other interests of personal law;
    … (Sec. 27)
Marriage and Family Life
  • English
    (1) On and after the 14th day of June, 1978, no Court having jurisdiction under the laws of Sierra Leone shall, by virtue of the Colonial and Other Territories (Divorce Jurisdiction) Act, 1926 to 1950, have jurisdiction to make a decree for the dissolution of a marriage, or as incidental thereto to make an order as to any matter, unless proceedings for the decree were instituted before the commencement of this Constitution.
    (2) Except as provided by subsection (1) and subject to any provision to the contrary which may be made on or after the commencement of this Constitution by or under any law made by any legislature established for Sierra Leone, all courts having jurisdiction under the laws of Sierra Leone shall on and after that day have the same jurisdiction under the said Acts as they would have had if this Constitution had not been passed.
    (3) The reference in subsection (1) to proceedings for the dissolution of a marriage includes references to proceedings for such a decree of presumption of death and dissolution of marriage as is authorised by section 1 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1950. (Sec. 184)
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2
Sections 18 (Protection of freedom of movement), 22 (Protection for privacy of home and other property), 24 (Protection of freedom of conscience), 25 (Protection of freedom of expression and the press) and 26 (Protection of freedom of assembly and association).
3
Chapter III on the Recognition and Protection of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
4

Sec. 35 as amended by 2022 Amendment.