The Sudd Relief and Development Action organization held a workshop Saturday in Bor to discuss issues of gender-based violence including rape, early or forced marriage, and sexual harrassment.

SRDA worker Okello Alphonse said gender-based violence is rampant in the greater Bor and Pibor societies. Okello said the workshop targeted young people who can go back to their villages and change local practices.

“The role of the participants is to train them to be community leaders, to lead the discussions among the community, the GBV sensitization, beliefs and the harmful norms that are leading to GBV in the community," Alphonse said.

One of the participants, Eliza Amer Ayii, said she intends to return to her community and challenge her leaders and parents who abuse the rights of girls.

“Forced marriage cannot happen," she said. "If the man loves you and you love him then he marries you, but if your parents love a man and you don’t, then he does not marry you."

"We will tell the community that a girl needs not to be forced to marry a man out her will,” she said.

She said communities should reconsider the abduction and rape of girls with intention of making them wives.