Advocacy groups petition the Ministry of Justice of the domestic violence incident in which a teenager's eyes were gouged by her father in Warrap State. | Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

More than 20 women advocacy groups have appealed for justice to the 18-year-old girl whose eyes were gouged by her father.  

The group summited a joint petition to the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Ruben Madol earlier on Monday.

The advocates called on the concerned ministries to initiate criminal prosecution against the suspect.

The coalition calling itself United Women Against Violence and Abuse also urged the Ministry of Justice to formulate an Anti-GBV Bill.

It further called for the protection, psychological and medical support to victims of the vices in the country.

While reading out the protest letter, Nyachangkuoth Tai, the Executive Director of Assistance Mission for Africa called on the Justice Ministry to take keen interest in the case.

“In the light of this development we call upon the national government to urge the ministry justices to initiate criminal prosecution against the father of Mary Akuot under section 208 of South Sudan penal act 2008,” Nyachangkuoth said.

“We call upon the minister of gender and the minister of justices to finalize the formulation of the Anti-GBV Bill and to rejuvenate the special protection units within this institution to address GVB cases.”

The alliance also appealed to the national government and partners to provide necessary psychological and medical support to Mary Akuot.

In response, the Minister of Justices Ruben Madol acknowledged the petition, adding that the Ministry has enough legal prosecutors to investigate the matter.

“Our mandate is very clear. We use the law and we are also required to legislate in a manner that protects and promotes the human rights of everybody,” Madol said to the advocates.

“As you have remarked in your petition, we have a leverage chapter on the human right on our constitution which talks about the right of the child and the right of the women against torture.”

“And on top of the right respect to life and dignity in this case we have very  sufficient  legal prosecutor  who have taken noticed of the particular case.”

On Sunday, an official in the national Ministry of Interior said the trial of police officer Angelo Agany, would be conducted in Juba.

Major General Sadiq Ismail Sadiq who is the Director of Legal Affairs at the National Police Service termed the incident as a crime against the state.

Suspect Agany was transferred to Wau Prison in Western Bahr el Ghazal from Tonj East County of Warrap where he was arrested by the authorities two weeks ago.

While his injured daughter was flown from Wau town for further medical treatment.