Human Rights Watch said child marriage is increasing the gender gap in school enrolment in South Sudan and asked the Government to end the widespread practice in the country.
Global Advocate for Women Rights Gauri van Gulik presented the report “√É’This Old Man Can Feed Us, You Will Marry Him:’ Child and Forced Marriage in South Sudan” on Thursday.She said 48 percent of girls aged between 16 and 19 who are married are at extremely risk of dying during labour.
She added that the girls giving birth below 17 are three times at risk of dying at child birth.
Ms Gulik said fistula was another huge consequence of child marriage, underlining that there are 5,000 new cases every year in young girls.
She attributed it to the lack of education and early marriage that is rampant in the county.
Ms Gulik said violence was another big challenge girls faced in early marriage.
The Human Rights Watch report recommends that the government clearly set 18 as the minimum age for marriage, ratifies conventions and treaties protecting women and children and pass comprehensive family legislation on marriage, separation, and divorce.