Marking the International Women’s Day, girls call on the South Sudan government to support their rights.
They mentioned early and forced marriages, gender based violence and other practices that hinder girl’s education in the country.
Christine Yobu, a teenager urges leaders to bring total peace to reduce violence against the girl child.
‘We need peace in this country to reduce violence facing us. We want girls’ rights to be supported by the government and parents. We also want children to be supported by the government and given good opportunities for their lives. And we want South Sudanese to stop early marriages facing us in this country. Early marriages destroy us from schools. And when we marry early, we are likely going to face many challenges that we are not supposed to face. Gone are the years for early marriage. So the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social welfare must stop early marriage’, Yobu urged.
Another young girl Randa Wani argues that it is not right for parents to decide for girls whom to marry.
‘Those men carrying out gender based violence should stop it. They should not just over load the women with work and think that women are just created to be at home, take care of children, produce and do all kind of domestic work at home. But they also have other role to do. They can do what men can do and can lead to the development of our country. And I would like to advise our parents who send their daughters for early marriage. It is not good. It should not be the parents to decide for the girl whom to choose or whom to marry. But it should be the girl to decide when she is grown up, finished her education, able to support herself and can make her own decision on whom to marry the good man she wants. But it should not be the parents to decide for their children because this is wrong. And women should be equally treated as men’, the girl stressed.
Daniel Sabri, a young boy advises women to celebrate their day well.
‘What I want to tell women is that this is their day so they have to celebrate. It is not a day they should only think of their challenges or problems at home but it is a day they have to celebrate that their percentage of participation should be counted’ , said the boy.
The speakers made their statement on Friday at Nyakuron Cultural centre in Juba.