The Deputy Governor of Imotong State urges parents to put an end to early marriage of girls.
Stop looking at the girl-child as a source of wealth, Dr Margret Itto advises as Radio Emmanuel reports.
The attitude of treating girls as source of income is a major cause of early girl-child marriage in South Sudan and across Africa, the Deputy Governor says.
She adds that the practice leads girls to high risks of contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases in addition to premature pregnancies.
The act, she says, leads to high rate of school dropout among girls.
The Deputy Governor warns that women will never get equal opportunities to compete with men if they are not given equal chances to excel in life.
Dr Itto was talking to participants of advocacy forum, pledging for equality.
The forum was organized by UNMISS in Torit.