South Sudan’s human rights commission condemns forced marriages

March 8, 2011 (JUBA) – The chairman of South Sudan’s Human Rights Commission, Laurent Gurbandi, has appealed to all levels of government in South Sudan to enact laws that combat what he called “bad habits” which result in the murder of young girls by parents over forced marriage disputes.

Gurbandi, who made the appeal on Tuesday during the celebrations for International Women’s Day at Nyakuron Culture Center in Juba, said such bad habits should be combated by law, in order to protect the girls’ rights.

He also called for enactment of a law which should prohibit marriage of girls 16 year old and below.

The top human rights official in South Sudan cited an incident in Jonglei state in which one girl was killed and another seriously injured. A young teenage girl was beaten to death last week in Bor county of Jonglei state by her parents because she chose to have a relationship with a man who did not have enough cattle to give her parents as a dowry.

Another girl in Bor survived a ruthless beating with injuries. The two girls were stripped naked and beaten until one of them died.

Another girl from Rumbek North county was also beaten to death on 11 February by her cousin in a dispute over her forced marriage. The girl is reported to have been killed after she demanded to be given ivory jewelry, a symbol of marital status in Dinka culture, before the wedding.

The marriage had been negotiated by the families with a dowry of 80 cattle agreed to be given to girl’s family.

The girl’s cousin, Kamic Mabuong Apach, was accused of killing her after she refused to marry the man before she received the traditional gifts.

He was alleged to have dragged her along the ground until her clothes were torn off and she had bruises all over her body and beat her to death.

On 31 December 2010, another girl was beaten to death by her cousins in Rumbek East county when the girl was said to have been impregnated by other man. The girl was taken to the bush where she was beaten to death. Her cousins were arrested and are awaiting trial.

Hundreds of women from all the ten states of South Sudan converged at Nyakuron Culture Center in Juba to commemorate the women’s day during which they appealed for women rights and promotion of female education.

The occasion was officiated by the Vice President of South Sudan, Riek Machar. 20 women, two from each of the ten states, were honoured for their long-term, positive contributions to the welfare of humanity in their respective states.

(ST)


(2011-3-10/SudanTribune)