By James Innocent
Prominent religious leaders in Yei County have called for an end to the practice of child marriage and have urged greater representation of women in the public sector to ensure their rights are respected.
“Yei communities should end early childhood marriage so that young girls get proper education, and young people from the age of 40 years should continue struggling for a better life because the old men are already getting tired of conflict before Christ,” said Emeritus Bishop Hillary Adeba of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) Diocese of Yei.
The bishop also warned young people to work hard for peace, just as they do for their faith.
Bishop Adeba emphasized the need for able-bodied peace implementation partners to work towards resolving the issues affecting Yei County, especially during the current period of hardship.
Ali Moga, the head of the Islamic Council in Yei River County, pointed out that women are the most tolerant people in the world, as they provide greater support to families compared to men at home.
He stressed that peace in the home is an important tool for society.
“Most of the tolerant people all over the world are women because they are supporting families more than men, and a family needs peace as an important tool in society,” Moga said.
He urged parents to protect their children from joining gangs by sending them back to school, as education is the key to unlocking difficult situations in the community, especially for women who play a vital role.
Moga called on women to work hard in agriculture and education to fight hunger and ensure there is enough food on the table.
He also appealed to both religious and government leaders to support the citizens.