Early marriage is a harmful cultural practice which severely deprives children of their rights to childhood and education. Early marriage was also the topic of an advocacy meeting organized by UNMISS for women living in Rumbek. It is a form of gender-based violence with devastating effects on the girl-child in the society.

Speaking during the meeting, the Deputy Governor Ms. Louis Agum Ruben appreciated the UNMISS initiative. She stressed that child marriages have adverse impacts on both girls and boys, and therefore called upon the communities of Western Lakes to renounce the practice.

“Child marriage has existed in our society for a long time, in South Sudan and in other parts of Africa. To change this, NGOs, the government, parents and young girls, all need to come together and work against it.”

The leader of the local Women Association urged the society to embrace changes of some negative cultural practices, including early marriages, which may subject children to depression. Early marriages are a form of gender-based violence with potentially devastating effects on girls in particular but also on boys.

“As a community we have to accept changes. We should not dwell too much on the past. Early marriage is harmful to our children. It deprives them of a better future and can on some occasions lead to death”, she maintained.

The one-day meeting was attended by 20 woman and ten school girls.