Community mobilizer of Moru-Kuron village in Kapoeta South County in Eastern Equatoria State admits that domestic violence, early and forced marriage are the common gender-based violence cases occurring within the communities due to alcohol consumption and ignorance.
Moses Lojore says many men in the community consume alcohol in excess causing disagreement in the family, Radio Emmanuel reported.
“The biggest cause of this gender-based violence cases in our communities is alcohol consumption, it happens every day. At least if people do not consume alcohol people will be in peace but the moment one consume alcohol fighting will start especially men they will start beating their wives because of food and they will fight then in the morning people start wondering what happen last night it is because of alcohol consumption and people don’t know anything about reporting to police or chiefs they just settle their issues in the morning alone”, he explains.
According to Lojore, the culture of early forced marriage is still being practiced in the rural area with girls falling victims.
“If the people far away from town especially those communities far away, they are still practicing this culture even though the child still young they are just looking for cattle, minding about him to take his wife even though young or big we don’t mind about the age of the girl. It is because people lack knowledge in my community doesn’t know about the importance of education so people are still blind people take marriage like a business if you have a wife you have to produce the children especially the ladies when they grow up you need to give to someone who’s rich that is why people in this community do not give children to education especially ladies”, he regrets.
The activist, who is worried about the future of girls in his community, urges parents to leave bad cultural practices and advocate for education.
“I am worried about the years to come I let each and every body to be clever to send their children to education I encourage all men to respect their family not marriage the young children because if you leave her to grown up you will still get what you need, you need to destroy the life of your child before she is still young my fellow parents and fellow men we need to send the children to school even our community will change you know the cultures we are following it is the sign of foolishness if we can send our children to school our community will change”, he indicates.
The community mobilizer of Moru-Kuron village in Kapoeta South County made the remarks to Radio Emmanuel.