The gender and social welfare minister in South Sudan’s Western Lakes State, Sabit John Magok has warned parents and chiefs against promoting early marriage practices.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, the minister decried the rampant early marriage practices occurring in the state.
“Early marriage is one of the major issues affecting the health and education of young girls a lot in the communities,” said Magok.
He, however, said government put in place a strategic plan for the abolition of early marriage practices in the country.
“The Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare and Rural Development is implementing this strategic plan of 2017 to 2030 in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health,” stressed Magok.
The minister blamed the rampant early marriage practices on poverty, saying parents were now giving away their young girls for high bride prices that range from between 100 to 200 cows.
Meanwhile, the director general in the gender ministry, Gibril Julla Allajabo urged international organizations operating in the state to increase awareness on the consequences of early and forced marriages.
“I am appealing to our partners that are supporting the Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare and Rural Development in the fight against early and forced marriages to double their effort in creating awareness in Gok, Western and Eastern Lakes States,” said Allajabo.
He said the ministry is currently working in partnership with Women Aid Vision, International Rescue Committee (IRC), South Sudan Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“We have very many reports of early marriages with death fatalities that the Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare has received from Wulu, Rumbek East, Rumbek North and Rumbek Central. There are also reports of some young girls who died during delivery process, some died on the way to the hospital while others died after operation during delivery,” explained Allajabo.
He added, “I also witnessed around four to six cases of such death fatality occurrences in the community in 2018”.
The official warned South Sudanese in the diaspora against marrying underage girl.
Rami Chol Ager, a mother, condemned early marriage practices, saying it is one of the major factors hindering young girls’ education in the state.
“I got married at the age of 18. An early marriage has a huge burden on girls not attending school classes not knowing the responsibilities involved. You may be caring for your kids, but when your husband has no job, things may get worse,” she said.
On his part, Osman Macuei, a parent, said cases of early marriages are on the rise in Western Lakes State due to rising poverty levels.
A report from the Gender and Social Welfare ministry says 10 underage girls from Wulu, Rumbek Central and Rumbek East counties were brutally forced by parents to get married at early ages while others were raped by youth during intra-communal violence.
South Sudan’s constitution defines a child as anyone under the age of 18, and further states that the best interests of the child will be protected in all matters related to his or her life, and that they should not be subjected to exploitative practices or abuse.