The state ministry of Gender and chiefs in Eastern Equatoria State have urged their state legislators to join them in the fight against girl-child compensation, a very common form of gender-based violence (GBV) in the state.
The state ministry of Gender and chiefs in Eastern Equatoria State have urged their state legislators to join them in the fight against girl-child compensation, a very common form of gender-based violence (GBV) in the state.
Ms. Jane Gama Surur, the state Director for Child Welfare said among the Lotuho tribe, when a person is killed in a fight, a young girl from the family of the killer would be given to the family of the deceased as compensation for the dead.
“This practice has caused more problems than solving. Girl-child compensation is very inhuman. Girl-child compensation should be phased out gradually or by law,” she said.
She said that women’s voices should be heard because they are the first teachers in the society. She added that it was very painful for women to see their children being taken away as a compensation for a crime they did not commit.
Torit’s paramount chief Charles Odonu and the head of chiefs in Hiyala Payam, Benjamin Ohide, said they have tried to minimize girl-child compensation but they need support from lawmakers and other partners in order to stop it.
“There is no love when a girl-child is given for the killing of another person. This practice has caused many problems. We want it to stop,” he said.
Ms. Surur attributed the rampant cases of mistreatment of girls to deeply ingrained beliefs in traditions, laxity in implementation of the Child Act, coupled with the laxity of legislators to sensitize their electorate on the need to end such cruel practices.
“Girls’ rights are never made clear; even majority of women still don’t know their rights. As a child, a girl should be granted all her rights so that she goes to school and lives happily while enjoying her privileges in this world as long as she lives,” she said.
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