The United Nations Mission in South Sudan or UNMISS, in Imotong State has organized a debate on gender-based violence with students of various schools in Torit.
The topic of the discussion was whether they agree or disagree with, ‘Early or forced marriage is the way of preventing girls from getting education and reach their potentials’, Radio Emmanuel reports.
Lenny Kinzli, UNMISS head of Public information Torit says, the debate aims at finding solutions to issues of early and forced marriage in the state.
Through discussions is when such cultural practices will be resolve, he adds.
Kinzli urges the peace ambassador to keep on educating the entire community about dangers of early and forced marriages.
Hassan Urbano Alex, Imotong State Minister of Education says they discourage early or forced marriage because it invites poverty to the community.
He says marrying at early or under age is a crime according to South Sudan’s laws
Vitale Ongejuk, Imotong State Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare admits that many people practice force and early marriages because they are not aware of the dangers of gender-based violence in communities.
He says some parents still do not understand Child Act.
Ongejuk urges students to go and give the information to different communities