A South Sudanese civil activist is defying the odds in the fight against early and forced marriages and other acts of Gender-Based Violence.
Adhot Chan Chan is warning against the use of girls for commercial sex work, as well as a main source of getting wealth.
Chan talked to Radio Tamazuj in Juba and blamed the communities across the country for sending girls into forced marriages, with the hope of gathering resources in the shortest time possible.
Chan is a fearless defender of the rights of a big number of girls that are forced into early marriages, saying that they deserve schooling and preparation for future advancement.
“Our fathers make us a source of income, huge monies, and that is why they force their daughters to be married against their will, or send their underage daughters into marriage for wealth,” she decries.
She advises families and communities on the importance of the elimination of harmful cultural practices against girls, children and women. She recommends more freedom and the fight against gender-based violence and gender inequality.
“My advice to the communities is to break these harmful cultural practices. It is not right to force your daughters to marry, and deny them a bright future,” she says.
Chan holds the government authorities responsible for not taking quick actions against the perpetrators of GBV.
“It seems as if there are no leaders in South Sudan to contain the bad habits. Surely, I am not happy with the open infringements against people’s rights in our country,” Chan asserts.
Lawyer Barnaba Aguer Deng says early and forced marriages are crimes according to the country’s laws. He invites the South Sudanese to respect the rights of every person, especially the children’s.
“Early marriage is an offence due to the fact that it is a violation of a child’s rights,” Deng says.