Child marriage in South Sudan
The government of South Sudan should do more to protect girls from child marriage. That was the call made in Juba on March 7, 2013.
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Child marriage is widespread in the country. It widens South Sudan's large gender gap in school enrolment and contributes to soaring maternal death rates. It also violates girls' right to be free from violence, and to marry only when they are able and willing to give their free consent.
According to government statistics, close to half (48 percent) of South Sudanese girls between 15 and 19 are married. Some marry as young as 12.