South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Benjamin Takpiny
Plan International South Sudan has called for greater support from the government, donors, and international partners to promote girls’ education and end child marriage in South Sudan.
The organisation emphasised that empowering girls through education is vital for building resilience, challenging harmful social norms, and creating safe spaces where girls can thrive.
“We seek support from all our partners, including the government of South Sudan, our donors, and international allies, Supporting girls, especially in education and specifically in efforts to end child marriage, is a lifeline for millions. Therefore, my primary request is for their support to build resilience, challenge harmful norms, and create safe spaces for girls,” said Paul Lusato, Country Director for Plan International South Sudan, during the International Day of the Girl commemoration at the Center of Leadership and Advocacy on Tuesday.
He called on the South Sudanese government to enforce child protection laws, strengthen institutions, and spearhead a national movement to end child marriage.
“Today, we engaged in a very constructive dialogue about the challenges facing girls, particularly regarding child marriage. What emerged is that the government has taken significant steps to develop policies—strong policies and laws—but the main challenge lies in their implementation,” he stated.
Lusato added that his call to action aims to ensure that the existing policies and laws, which are indeed commendable, are put into practice.
“Let us ensure they protect the children, the young girls of South Sudan. As I mentioned, ending child marriage requires collective action. We urge continued investment from our donors, foster collaboration, and maintain advocacy to ensure every girl in South Sudan can grow up safe, educated, and empowered to raise her voice.”
He further noted that one of the main challenges girls face is deeply entrenched social norms. “Cultural issues, social norms, dowry, and early marriage are deeply rooted and resistant to change. However, despite these challenges, we are doing everything possible to address them. Additionally, limited funding resources pose another significant issue. We have an ambitious national strategy, with protection from violence as a priority. Girls’ education and gender equality are also central to our mission.”
Ms. Maneno Christine, a student from Nimule Secondary School, who took over the office of Plan International South Sudan, called for support for all schoolgirls across the country to enable them to complete their studies.
“It has been my pleasure to be in Juba and take over this office. I have been waiting for this day, and finally, my prayers have been answered. I am ready to do my job,” she said.
She encouraged all girls to pursue their dreams, become valuable members of society, report cases of early child marriage, and concentrate on their education.
