Lawmaker Juol Nhomngek Daniel has called on the South Sudan government to tackle child and forced marriage, and gender-based violence.
His remarks come amid reports that 52% of South Sudanese girls were married off before the age of 18, with cases largely tied to poverty and economic challenges.
“Forced and early marriages should be eliminated, especially to protect young girls who face unimaginable risks and hardships as a result,” Juol said.
Organizations such as Save the Children were focusing on improving educational opportunities for girls and young mothers, especially those who dropped out due to early marriages or pregnancy.
An Education Technical Advisor with Save the Children, Isaac Otieno, explained their multi-faceted approach to supporting education in South Sudan.
“We majorly focus on supporting South Sudan’s education sector along with various ministerial programs, ensuring that we reach the desired outcomes and impact,” he said.
Save the Children targets education from Primary 1 to Primary 8, and, from Senior 1 to Senior 4.
Otieno outlined the organization’s approach, which includes capacity building for teachers, strengthening school governance, and supporting policy to make schooling more inclusive.
Through the Multi-Year Resilience Program, Save the Children has helped over 1,000 young mothers, referred to as school re-entrants, to resume studies.
The program, funded by Education Cannot Wait and the Global Partnership for Education addresses the needs of young mothers, who often face additional economic and social challenges.
“These young mothers receive dignity kits, mentorship, and even life-skills training so they can continue their education while balancing their responsibilities,” Otieno noted.
He highlighted that one of the biggest challenges is South Sudan’s deep-rooted cultural practices, which continue to view girls as sources of economic benefit through marriage.
“Changing mindsets is critical,” he emphasized.
“The education and mentorship programs not only support girls but also promote positive community perceptions about gender equality and education.”
“Since we started supporting young mothers, we have brought back 1,085 learners into school,” Otieno said, adding that they work with school authorities to reintegrate the young mothers.
Juol said organizations like Save the Children shared a common goal: achieving long-term systemic change.
“South Sudan’s Constitution aligns with the international human rights laws, making child marriage illegal,” he explained.
“The key issue is ensuring these laws are actively enforced and supported by policies that promote gender equity.”