South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The government in partnership with UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday marked World Children’s Day in Juba with a run to support ending child marriage in the country.
A mass of runners and walkers, clad in vibrant shades of World Children’s Day blue, looped around Juba’s streets and finished at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum for continued celebrations.
The UN World Children’s Day is marked on 20 November each year.
It was celebrated under the theme “Run to End Child Marriage in South Sudan”.
The day is put aside to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide and improve children’s welfare.
Ihuro Joseph, UNICEF young Reporter urged the government and partners to join hands with children to advocate for ending child marriage in the country.
“It is our collective responsibility to end child marriage. You might not be a victim today but someone somewhere is and you therefore ought to be a voice for the voiceless. I asked you all to advocate ending child marriage not only in South Sudan but the world at large,” said Ihuro.
She said ending child marriage will allow children to pursue their education in a bid to be better people in the future.
“We don’t have to wait for another day, the time is now. I am a child, not a wife or husband. I am a child with a great future, so let us work together for the future of the children by saying no to child marriage.”
Lily Kida, Chairperson of Specialized Committee of Gender, Child and Social Welfare said children should be protected by sending them to school.
“We protect our children by sending our children to school, giving our children rights to health, rights to shelter, rights to food and other basic needs,” said Kida.
Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF Country Representative said child marriages have an impact on the health of children as it increases gender-based violence, and early pregnancy as well as robs them of their childhood, and rights to education.
“These statistics are not just numbers, they represent the stolen life of countless girls denied their fundamental rights and forced into a lifestyle of hardship and poor health,” she said.
“As we celebrate World Children’s Day, let all pledge to protect our children from harmful and ensure their well-being, let provide them with quality education and opportunities to learn and grow.”
In South Sudan, 52% of all girls are married before they reach 18, and around one-third of all girls are pregnant before turning 15, depriving them of their basic rights, and for some, even their lives.
Child marriage is deeply rooted in gender inequality and harmful social norms. South Sudan is among the countries with deeply entrenched cultural practices and social norms linked to gender. Child marriage is further fuelled by poverty.
South Sudan is one of the countries with deeply entrenched cultural practices and social norms linked to gender.
