The South Sudan Ministry of General Education on Monday called on local authorities to enforce laws and regulations aimed at eliminating and preventing gender-based violence against women and girls.
The call came a week after a father in Warrap state had allegedly gouged out both eyes of his 18-year-old daughter after she refused an arranged marriage.
The father, who is a police officer, has been reportedly arrested and will be arraigned in court and the girl has been transported to Juba for medical treatment.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference on Monday, Martin Tako Moyi, Deputy Minister of General Education condemned the act and called on local government authorities to enforce the rule of law to protect girls.
“I am strongly appealing to chiefs and the community leaders to identify those harmful traditions and practices that are detrimental to the welfare of the society and correct them. I am also equally appealing to the local government authorities to enforce the rule of laws that ensure justice, equality, freedom, and safety of women,” Martin said.
He said most girls who faced forced marriage are unable to access education and protection, remain vulnerable, and live in abusive family environments in the country.
“Gender-Based Violence is often not reported because of the negative social stigma faced by victims and because perpetrators of violence at times take retaliatory action against victims who report,” he added.
Martin said this young innocent girl deserves prompt justice in order to deter the occurrence of the same barbaric act which many women and girls continue to experience.
“The Ministry of General Education and Instruction condemns this barbaric act in the strongest terms possible. The Ministry demands justice for Ms. Akuot Angelo Kut who has been inflicted untold suffering at the hands of her own father who at the same time is also a law enforcement agent,” he said.
Ester Akumu, Director General of Gender at the Ministry of General Education and Instructions said GBV is a harmful practice that discouraged the promotion of girl child education.
“We would like to join the nation in denouncing this act and saying that we should treat both girls and boys the same and we shouldn’t mistreat our children,” said Akumu.
“The country is working very hard to promote girl child education and you have all heard what the president says and what the President has done is great work when he declares free education and yet here, we are destroying the lives of the girl child.”