Stakeholders pose for a photo after a one-day workshop. February 4, 2025. (Photo: Madrama James).

An assessment by national non-profit organizations has found that social and economic barriers remain a big challenge hindering adolescent girls and young women from realizing their dreams in some parts of South Sudan.

The study was recently conducted by National Women Empowerment and Rehabilitation Organization (NWERO) in partnership with Adolescent Girls and Young Women Network (AGYWN), on gender based violence (GBV), HIV/AIDS and reproductive health related issues.

The survey based in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Eastern and Western Equatroria, found prevalence of forced marriage and sexual exploitation – where girls as young as 13 years are lured into marriage for material gains.

Speaking in a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, Helda Ifon Wani, Deputy Director for Adolescent Girls and Young Women Network, said GBV survivors often find it difficult to access basic services on time.

“The adolescent girls and young women mentioned that the economic barriers in terms of poverty restrict their access to health care services. For example, the cost of transportation, treatment or tests may be expensive for them,” she pointed out.

“We also found from adolescent girls and young women that the deep rooted social norms marginalize their health and reproductive rights because most of their parents force them to get married at the earlier age starting from 13 onward.”

On her part, NWERO Executive Director Editha Meling Leju, stressed that her organization supports young girls and women in navigating their challenges through mentored programs.

“We started the journey in 2018, when NWERO partnered with adolescent and young girls and women and took them through capacity building in leadership, advocacy, and sexual reproductive health training, and HIV/AIDS and GBV.”

“They were trained advocacy strategy. They are also trained on economic empowerment, NWERO mentored those ladies since that time are for today.”

In South Sudan, an estimated 65 per cent of women and girls experience physical, sexualised or gender-based violence during their lifetime.

The laws of South Sudan provide for the protection of women and girls against discrimination, forced marriage and gender based violence.

The Transitional Constitution stipulates that women shall be accorded full and equal dignity of the person with men, and have the right to equal pay for equal work and other related benefits with men.

It further states that women shall have the right to participate equally with men in public life and all levels of government shall enact laws to combat harmful customs and traditions which undermine the dignity and status of women.

Atap Santino Deng, Executive Director of Adolescent Girls and Young Women Network, urged young women to embark on entrepreneurship activities for economic independence.

“Young women and girls, they need economic independence. They need to be engaged in small entrepreneurship activities, like the one we have been doing in Juba here.”

“We are to engage young women and girls, like in Lologo and Kapuri, on how to bake biscuits, and making liquid soap. These small items, they could sell them and get some money.”

For his part, Mathew Komba, Program Officer for UNAIDS, reiterated his organization’s to continue supporting the youth-led initiative

“I reaffirm UNAIDS’ commitment to contributing to support advancing HIV response with the focus of gender issues in the country,” she said.

“Let us continue our engagement beyond this workshop to ensure a sustained progress in HIV prevention, GBV response and the SRHR services for adolescent girls and young women. Together we can end HIV by 2030 in South Sudan.”

The one-day workshop also emphasized on the importance of prioritizing the rights and economic empowerment of adolescent girls and young women in South Sudan.