Yearning for Equality: The consequences of forced marriage in South Sudan
By Deng Akok Muoradid, Juba, South Sudan
February 6, 2018 (SSB) — A forced marriage is a type of marriage that is initiated by the wealth- minded parents without the full consent of the woman and man who are intending to marry. A marriage of convenience is becoming common in South Sudan as many women are forced by their parents to marry the men who are not their choice.
A forced marriage usually occurs when the man who wanted to marry agreed to give the girl’s parents whatever they need without taking in to account the will of the girl. It only benefits the girl’s parents but it has negative impacts on the couples.
The major consequences of the forced marriage can be seen from the increasing number of the street women, many of whom have divorced their husbands for different reasons that are associated with their marriage foundation.
A woman who was forced to marry does not enjoy her marriage life because she has no confident in her husband. She cannot be accorded much respect and care by her partner because she is regarded as a purchased property.
So the poor relationship, constant quarreling, fighting and distrust between the couples are attributed to forced marriage and the above challenges may lead to disintegration of the family.
One of the fatal consequences of the forced marriage on the women in South Sudan is the increasing mortality rates in which most of the underage women die due to the birth complications.
As a saying goes “you cannot forced a horse to drink water”. So the human being can not be forced to love someone whom he or she doesn’t love because love is a natural aspect.
A Forced marriage is considered as an immoral practice in our traditional societies and it also constitutes a crime accounting to the transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.
Therefore our parents who are forcing their daughters to marry because of cash don’t know that they are subjecting them to death and torture. Forcing a girl to love an individual whom she doesn’t love means preferring death to life.
In conclusion, I am requesting all the parents and elders of South Sudan to respect the rights and opinion of their daughters. They should know that all the human beings are equal regardless of their age.
The author is an undergraduate of honorary degree in applied and industrial sciences college from the University of Juba. He was the former booking officer and an operation manager of the defund Golden Wings Aviation Company Limited at Wau office. He is reachable via Email: dengakokmuoradid@gmail.com or mob: +211954764508.
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