The Minister of Culture says South Sudan is leading the world with 40 percent cases of child marriage due to the practices of forced marriage.
Nadia Arop Dudi says during World Population Day press briefing that the country has the highest premature pregnancy rates in the world.
She says the long time cultural practice of marrying off girls from first menstrual experience is an obstacle to education.
United Nations Population Fund or UNFPA Representative, Experance Fundira calls for joint efforts to transform South Sudan’s cultural practices against education and health development.
She declares that at least 31 percent of South Sudanese girls have given birth in premature ages.
The level of illiteracy for girls between the ages of 15 and 24 is 87 percent, says the official.
Meanwhile, Dr Alexander Dimiti, the Director-General in the national Ministry of Health says there is need for massive campaign against child marriage to avoid serious health problems.
He decries some community practices of announcing girls’ readiness for marriage as soon as they experience the first menstruation.
MP Scopas Taban Lo Kabang says the Transitional Assembly shall consider amending the current constitution and put clearly the marriageable age to save the country from messes.