Children in Torit called on South Sudanese communities to respect their rights by ending early and forced marriages.
During African Child Day commemorated in Torit on Wednesday the kids complained that they are forced for marriage without their full consent.
Speaking during the occasion, Lucky Oyet Oyella 16-year-old student of Dr. John Garang Memorial Secondary School says many parents have abused the right of children to form a family as they view female children as source of wealth.
‘End child marriage in South Sudan putting children’s right firs. Many children are being forced to marry at early age by their parents or care givers to any person of the parent’s choice whom the family is well off without a free and full concept of a female child. Their right to found a family has always been abused by different cultures and traditional harmful practices. Female children are made to be like properties which can be sold out at the will of the family in exchange of wealthy or food’, he cries out.
Viola Angelo, another female student suggests that rights to education should be prioritized in the state.
According to her, most children end up on streets due to lack of parental care.
‘Currently many children are denied access to the school, therefore we are willingly appealing for your support to education, education should be compulsory for all children. A parent who does not for any reason want to send his or her child to school should face the law. The future of this country lies in the hands of these children. To my fellow children, report any case of all forms of abuse done to you and done to your fellow children, report all the breaches of child rights to the child desk help in your school we need to fight for our rights’, the girls stresses.
While Dominic Otwari, chairperson for Specialized Committee Education, Gender, Child and Social Welfare at Torit State Legislative Assembly says poverty is a major problem hindering the implementation of child rights in the state and South Sudan at large.
He calls on the state government to improve worker’s wages to fight poverty and allow children have access to basic requirements.
‘The situation of children cannot be improved as you are living below poverty life in this country we are living below poverty life. Honourable deputy governor and partners and other United Nation agencies, I think to fight this situation of the children to be the leaders of tomorrow and leaders of today, poverty needs to be reduces. I think it is good, education we see a bright future in you all, but that bright future when poverty is looming is nothing’, he reiterates.
Mikelele Ofuho of UNICEF, says ending child and forced marriage is a collective responsibility of all citizens.
‘It is not only the responsibility of the government, but it is our collective responsibility both the humanitarian, the partners the parents, the children the parents and everybody to contribute to end this child marriage simply because a girl child is equally important and I think the right example is cited among us. As a Guest of honour and I think it was testified by children speeches and it is us to really up hold the right of a child and implement it so that this girl child can as well flourish and have the potential to build this Country’, he notes.
While the deputy Governor Torit State warns that any parent who will violate the rights of his or her child for marriage will be brought to book.
‘Please leave this issue of cornering or staying in the middle, be responsible students, be responsible pupils, there are laws and regulations of the country we as government we are going to try our best to enforce those laws’, he appeals.
To parents who are not handling their children they will end up in prison those who are forcing their girl child for marriage they will end in prison because we also want to be with others in eradicating forceful girl child marriage by 2030′, he continues.