We will arrest you if marry off underage girls – Governor Adil warn parents

​Central Equatoria Governor Anthony Emanuel Adil has directed the security apparatus to arrest and present before court any parent who marries off underage girls.

The governor said that anyone found to have married off children of school-going age will be prosecuted.

“No child should be left home, every child should be sent to school.

“That is what we are aiming for!

“No child should be left behind, especially girls, they should not be married off at a younger age,” he said.

Adil was speaking in his home town – Yei last weekend.

He he emphasized the need for education, especially for the girl child.

He further directed chiefs in Yei County to take stern action against any parent found to have violated the order.

Adil also donated SSP20 million for the construction of Kinji Secondary School which is in the process of being transformed into a girls’ boarding school.

Mama Hawa Adam, Acting Chairperson of the Yei River County Women’s Association, added her voice on early marriages, stating that many children, particularly young girls, are not attending school due to a lack of infrastructure in their communities.

“Children especially girls, are getting married. They are getting pregnant because they lack learning facilities in the area,” she revealed.

She also cited lack of motivation, especially delayed teachers’ salaries among the challenges suffocating the already struggling education sector.

“Many teachers (in Yei River County) are now leaving the profession because they are not paid on time.”