Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan said full participation and empowerment of women in society is necessary if South Sudan is to achieve development and sustainable peace.
Hilde F. Johnson added that supporting the gender agenda of equality between women and men is a cross-cutting objective for the United Nations in South Sudan.This came in her press release issued on Friday marking International Women’s Day under the national theme “Gender agenda: educate girls and women”,
The UNMISS chief noted that child marriage remains a deterrent to education which affects thousands of girls and young women.
Ms Johnson added that child marriage deprive girls and young women of the ability to achieve their full potential and to fully contribute to the building of this new nation.
She said the UN continues to work closely with the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare and all relevant institutions to empower women, close the gender gap, and get more girls into schools.