JONGLEI - Too often in South Sudan, girls are treated as assets to be sold to the highest bidder.
“We treat girls as bank accounts rather than advocating for their protection and right to education,” explains the Jonglei State Minister of General Education, Samuel Ador Thon.
He stressed the need to confront practices that normalize the exploitation of girls at a three-day training on conflict-sensitive journalism and evidence-based advocacy for local authorities, civil society and media in Jonglei.
The initiative, hosted by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, coincided with the global campaign, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. It was an opportunity for these key influencers to come together to challenge harmful cultural norms that fuel violence against women and girls.
Like many regions in South Sudan, Jonglei continues to experience persistent inter-communal violence, which costs many lives and contributes to increasing levels of gender-based violence, early and forced marriage, and abductions.
Girls in this area can be married for anywhere between 30 and 500 cows at an average cost of USD600 per animal which, in a country suffering from huge economic deprivation, drives families to make difficult decisions to secure their financial wellbeing rather than considering the best interests of the young woman.
To help strengthen understanding of the harm caused and to encourage advocacy against the practice, UNMISS launched a capacity-building programme to equip journalists and civil society activists with skills in conflict-sensitive reporting, gathering and verification of information, advocacy, early warning, and peacebuilding skills.
“The media wakes us up when we overlook problems in our communities. Accurate reporting prevents tensions from escalating and supports peace,” said Minister Samuel Ador Thon.
Chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, Bol Deng Bol, emphasized the importance of access to information so that communities that are vulnerable to manipulation make better informed decisions.
“Political pluralism is a constitutional right. As civil society, we have long advocated for leaders to avoid political conflicts that divide communities. When leaders fight, they shame the people they represent,” he said, urging authorities to strengthen democratic processes and protect journalists.
The training was designed to also give civil society and media an opportunity to play a central role in preparations for the country’s first elections, particularly in countering harmful and divisive narratives.
“Civil society offers early-warning signals, while responsible media reporting prevents the spread of hate speech and misinformation,” said UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer, Khalif Farah. “UNMISS remains committed to supporting peaceful dialogue, responsible journalism, and civic participation in Jonglei.”
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By Mach Samuel
