Early marriages and forced marriages are on the rise in Eastern Equatoria state, according to the state minister of gender.

“An assessment has been done in schools around the state and the number of girls dropping out of school is high as a result of early marriages,” Paska Hivita Oduho told Eye Radio.

She said her ministry has sent a number of social workers to villages to enlighten people on the importance of educating girls.

Madam Hivita also revealed that chiefs in the state are being trained on what the interim constitution of the state says about gender equity.

In an interview with Eye Radio, she talked of the major challenges girls encountered in most of the villages.

“Somebody would kill someone and give their child in return,” said Madam Hivita. “They don’t even know what is called law.”

“Like when you have such an act of murder, what are you required to do – Straight away even if they are brought here to the prison, the family would come and say they we are going to solve this problem in the village amicably.

“And solving the problem amicably is by giving a child in return.”

Madam Hivita urged people to provide a good environment to young girls so that they do not rush into early marriages.

She also warned that anyone forcing children into marriage would be punished according to the law.

40 percent of South Sudanese girls are married before the age of 18, according to the Sudan Household Health Survey, 2010.